Three-dimensional imaging using swept, confocally aligned planar excitation and a customized image splitter

Abstract

In a first invention, a SCAPE system routes light from a tilted intermediate image plane () to an infinity space disposed behind a third objective (). A first dichroic beam splitter () positioned in the infinity space routes light from the intermediate image plane with different wavelengths in different directions. First and second light detector arrays () capture first and second wavelength images, respectively, and optical components () route light having the first and second wavelengths towards the first and second light detectors, respectively. In a second invention, a SCAPE system is used to capture a plurality of images while a sample is perturbed (e.g., vibrated, deformed, pushed, pulled, stretched, or squeezed) in order to visualize the impact of the perturbation on the sample.