title: Miniaturized two-photon microscope based on a flexible coherent fiber bundle and a gradient-index lens objective.
abstract: We present a miniature, flexible two-photon microscope consisting of a fused coherent optical fiber bundle with 30,000 cores and a gradient-index lens objective. The laser focus of a standard two-photon laser-scanning microscope was scanned over the entrance surface of the fiber bundle, resulting in sequential coupling into individual cores. Fluorescent light was detected through the fiber bundle. Micrometer-sized fluorescent beads and pollen grains were readily resolved. In addition, fluorescently labeled blood vessels were imaged through the fiber bundle in rat brain in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Medizinische Forschung, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Göbel
authors.forename: Jason N D
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nimmerjahn
authors.forename: Fritjof
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Helmchen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019723:Endoscopes; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008904:Miniaturization; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology; D055100:Optical Fibers; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011058:Pollen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation*