Closing the spectral gap: the transition from fixed-parameter fluorescence to tunable devices in confocal microscopy

Rolf Borlinghaus; Hilmar Gugel; Patrizia Albertano; Volker Seyfried

doi:10.1117/12.646877

23 February 2006 Closing the spectral gap: the transition from fixed-parameter fluorescence to tunable devices in confocal microscopy

Rolf Borlinghaus, Hilmar Gugel, Patrizia Albertano, Volker Seyfried

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6090, Three-Dimensional and Multidimensional Microscopy: Image Acquisition and Processing XIII; 60900T (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.646877
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2006, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

Modern microscopy in life sciences is ruled by development and exploration of new dyes and stains (probes for histochemical staining, quantum dots, fluorescent proteins etc.) on one side, and technological improvements and innovations for fluorescence microscopy-especially high resolution and optical sectioning microscopy-on the other side. Concerning the technical innovations, several ingenious inventions have been made available for confocal microscopy. First, the acousto optical tunable filter, which allows switching and dimming of laser lines. Second the spectral detector, employing mirror sliders in front of the detectors which allow continuous tuning of the spectral emission band detected by the sensor. Third, the most challenging task: a substitute to the classical beam splitter-the device which is restricting fluorescence microscopy most. This was solved by introduction of the acousto optical beam splitter. The very last device which is still lacking flexibility is the laser source, operating only at non-equidistant frequencies and requiring a set of quite different laser sources as gas lasers, solid state lasers or diode lasers. A new approach by supercontinuum light sources is presented and discussed, which significantly enhances flexibility and coverage of the excitation spectra of typical, rare and natural fluorochromes.

Citation Download Citation

Rolf Borlinghaus, Hilmar Gugel, Patrizia Albertano, and Volker Seyfried "Closing the spectral gap: the transition from fixed-parameter fluorescence to tunable devices in confocal microscopy", Proc. SPIE 6090, Three-Dimensional and Multidimensional Microscopy: Image Acquisition and Processing XIII, 60900T (23 February 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.646877

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available