The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Christian A Combs

Robert S Balaban

Jay R Knutson

Light collectors for fluorescence microscopy include slab light guides having a specimen volume such as a specimen well configured to retain a specimen. The specimen volume is bounded by a surface of the slab light guide that permits laterally propagating fluorescence to enter the slab light guide and propagate toward a detection or imaging system. Typically, the slab light guide has an elliptical perimeter and the sample volume is situated at a first focus of the elliptical perimeter. A reflector such as a conical reflector is situated at the second focus so as to direct the collected fluorescence to exit the slab light guide.

Lightguides to simplify total emission detection for multiphoton microscopy

A multi-photon microscope having an illumination source that transmits an illumination light into a housing having an objective lens arrangement for illuminating a sample disposed outside the housing and directing a first portion of emission light emitted from the sample to a detection system is disclosed. A light collection system is disposed proximate the objective lens arrangement for directing a second portion of emission light in a coaxial relationship with the first portion of emission light to the detection system such that substantially all of the emission light on, around and above the illumination region is detected.

Non-contact total emission detection method and system for multi-photon microscopy

A multi-photon microscope has an illumination source, an objective lens unit arranged in an optical path of the illumination source, a first light collection system arranged to collect a first portion of light emitted from a sample when the sample is illuminated by light from the illumination source, and a second light collection system arranged to collect a second portion of light emitted from the sample when the sample is illuminated by light from the illumination source. The first portion of light when collected by the first light collection system and the second portion of light when collected by the second light collection system, together provide a means of collecting as much light from as many angles as possible emanating from an emitting point source. This collection scheme has the potential to approach the total emission collection of light from an emitting point source depending on the optical properties of the sample being imaged.

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Bethesda, MD, United States of America

Christian A Combs