title: On the fundamental imaging-depth limit in two-photon microscopy.
abstract: We have analyzed how the maximal imaging depth of two-photon microscopy in scattering samples depends on properties of the sample and the imaging system. We find that the imaging depth increases with increasing numerical aperture and staining inhomogeneity and with decreasing excitation-pulse duration and scattering anisotropy factor, but is ultimately limited by near-surface fluorescence with slight improvements possible using special detection strategies.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany. ptheer@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Theer
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Denk
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted