title: AOTF microscope for imaging with increased speed and spectral versatility.
abstract: We have developed a new fluorescence microscope that addresses the spectral and speed limitations of current light microscopy instrumentation. In the present device, interference and neutral density filters normally used for fluorescence excitation and detection are replaced by acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs). Improvements are described, including the use of a dispersing prism in conjunction with the imaging AOTF and an oblique-illumination excitation scheme, which together enable the AOTF microscope to produce images comparable to those obtained with conventional fluorescence instruments. The superior speed and spectral versatility of the AOTF microscope are demonstrated by a ratio image pair acquired in 3.5 ms and a micro-spectral absorbance measurement of hemoglobin through a cranial window in a living mouse.
authors.affiliation: Center for Light Microscope Imaging and Biotechnology, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. ew2w@andrew.cmu.edu
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Wachman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Farkas
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000166:cytology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000166:cytology; D004867:Equipment Design; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods