High spatial resolution imaging of a structure of interest in a specimen

US7880150B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften e.V. · US

Inventors

• Stefan W. Hell · Oebisfelde, DE
• Christian Eggeling · Oettingen, DE
• Alexander Egner · Einbeck, DE
• Jonas Fölling · Heidelberg, DE
• Andreas SCHONLE · Oebisfelde, DE
• Mariano Bossi · Olavarría, AR

Key dates

• Filing date: May 29, 2008
• Grant date: Feb 1, 2011
• Expiry date: May 29, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B27/58
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

For the high spatial resolution imaging of a structure of interest in a specimen, a substance is selected from a group of substances which have a fluorescent first state and a nonfluorescent second state; which can be converted fractionally from their first state into their second state by light which excites them into fluorescence, and which return from their second state into their first state; the specimen's structure of interest is imaged onto a sensor array, a spatial resolution limit of the imaging being greater (i.e. worse) than an average spacing between closest neighboring molecules of the substance in the specimen; the specimen is exposed to light in a region which has dimensions larger than the spatial resolution limit, fractions of the substance alternately being excited by the light to emit fluorescent light and converted into their second state, and at least 10% of the molecules of the substance that are respectively in the first state lying at a distance from their closest neighboring molecules in the first state which is greater than the spatial resolution limit; and the fluorescent light, which is spontaneously emitted by the substance from the region, is registere…