Optical microscopy with phototransformable optical labels

US7626695B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Robert Eric Betzig · Ashburn, US
• Harald F. Hess · Ravensburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 21, 2007
• Grant date: Dec 1, 2009
• Expiry date: Mar 29, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2021/6441
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus includes a position-sensitive detector to detect intensities of radiation as a function of position on the detector, and an optical system, characterized by a diffraction-limited resolution volume, adapted for imaging light emitted from activated and excited phototransformable optical labels (“PTOLs”) in a sample onto the position sensitive-detector. A first light source provides activation radiation to the sample to activate a subset of the PTOLs that are distributed in the sample with a density greater than an inverse of the diffraction-limited resolution volume of the optical system. A second light source provides excitation radiation to the sample to excite a portion of the PTOLs in the subset of the PTOLs. A controller controls one both of the activation radiation and the excitation radiation provided to the sample such that a density of PTOLs in the portion of the PTOLs is less than the inverse of the diffraction-limited resolution volume.