Single/multi-mode Nonlinear Imaging System

Nonlinear optical (NLO) microscopy is becoming a powerful tool for studying live tissues and live animals due to several unique advantages over traditional methods. Nonlinear dependence on excitation intensity gives NLO microscopy inherent 3-D imaging capability without the need for a confocal pinhole. This is particularly advantageous in the case of tissue and in vivo imaging where significant scattering can reduce the signal collection efficiency by confocal detection. Laser scanning facilitates real-time imaging of live tissues and animals.

Also, NLO microscopy utilizes near-IR excitation that provides both superior optical penetration into tissues as well as reduced photodamage due to reduced interaction with endogenous molecules.

Nonlinear imaging system has single and multi-modalities, which are sensitive for probing different cellular structures.

Multimodal nonlinear imaging system is poised to become a powerful tool in bioimaging given its ability to capitalize on the unique advantages possessed by different NLO imaging modalities. The integration of different imaging modalities such as two-photon-excited fluorescence, sum frequency generation, and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering on the same platform can facilitate simultaneous imaging of different biological structures.

The system consists of: microscope, scanning galvanometer, laser, photomultiplier tube detector, two-dimensional translation platform, preamplifier, data acquisition system and computer.

Applications: biomedical imaging, cell imaging.