High-resolution fluorescence microscopy using a structured beam of excitation light

US9719928B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

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

Inventor

• Stefan W. Hell · Oebisfelde, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 22, 2016
• Grant date: Aug 1, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 22, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2201/10
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In order to determine the locations of individual fluorescent molecules in a sample, which keep a minimum distance with regard to each other, the individual molecules are excited for emission of fluorescence light by means of excitation light. The fluorescence light is registered for different positions of a zero point of an intensity distribution of the excitation light. The distance between these positions is at least half the minimum distance of the fluorescent molecules. The locations of the fluorescent molecules are derived from the course of the intensity of the fluorescence light over the positions of the zero point of the excitation light.