Multifocal imaging systems and method
US10598597B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 2017 |
| Grant date | Mar 24, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B21/16
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In the systems and methods of the present invention a multifocal multiphoton imaging system has a signal to noise ratio (SNR) that is reduced by over an order of magnitude at imaging depth equal to twice the mean free path scattering length of the specimen. An MMM system based on an area detector such as a multianode photomultiplier tube (MAPMT) that is optimized for high-speed tissue imaging. The specimen is raster-scanned with an array of excitation light beams. The emission photons from the array of excitation foci are collected simultaneously by a MAPMT and the signals from each anode are detected using high sensitivity, low noise single photon counting circuits. An image is formed by the temporal encoding of the integrated signal with a raster scanning pattern. A deconvolution procedure taking account of the spatial distribution and the raster temporal encoding of collected photons can be used to improve decay coefficient. We demonstrate MAPMT-based MMM can provide significantly better contrast than CCD-based existing systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.