SBIR Phase II: Closed-loop control of MEMS deformable mirror for two-photon microscopy

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目将通过开发新型可变形膜镜（DMM）技术，实现双光子显微镜（2pm）的视频速率三维（3D）成像，实现快速、精确的焦点控制。作为激光扫描显微镜（lsm）的一个子集，2pm通过使用聚焦的高功率激光束来激发荧光，通过同时吸收两个低能量红外光子来刺激可见光谱中的发射，从而实现非常高的空间分辨率。与其他LSM方法相比，由于分辨率的提高和红外光对组织的穿透性增加，2pm已被广泛接受用于生命科学，特别是神经科学。为该项目开发的DMM技术将通过提供一种能够同时控制焦点和像差的电可调光学器件，同时比竞争对手的技术运行速度快一个数量级，从而解决价值1.65亿美元的2PM市场。这项技术带来的3D成像能力将推动神经科学领域的新研究，旨在解决中风和阿尔茨海默病等广泛存在的慢性医学问题。一旦下午2点进入市场，这项技术将被改进，以应对更大的58亿美元的3D激光打印市场。在第一期项目中，开发了新的反射镜涂层来处理2pm中使用的高功率激光器。随着DMM核心技术的到位，这个二期项目的主要目标是控制镜面的驱动和形状，以便在2pm中可靠地使用。这个第二阶段项目的第一个目标是开发用于镜面驱动和形状鲁棒控制的电子设备。目标二将集中于完善DMM的核心技术和制造方法，使膜的位置传感和改进镜面行程，以满足下午2点市场的客户。最后的目标将涉及创建光学和机械组件和模块，将DMM技术纳入关键的显微镜。第二阶段的结果将是一个具有主动焦点控制的市场就绪DMM产品，以应对不断增长的2PM市场。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will enable video-rate three-dimensional (3D) imaging within two-photon microscopes (2PMs) by developing novel deformable membrane mirror (DMM) technology for fast, precise focus control. As a subset of laser scanning microscopes (LSMs), 2PMs achieve very high spatial resolution by using a focused, high-power laser beam to excite fluorescence via the simultaneous absorption of two low-energy infrared photons to stimulate emission in the visible spectrum. Because of the increased resolution, and increased penetration of infrared light into tissue compared with other LSM methods, 2PMs have become widely accepted for use in the life sciences, specifically for neuroscience. The DMM technology developed for this project will address the $165 million 2PM market by delivering an electrically tunable optic capable of simultaneously controlling focus and aberrations while operating an order of magnitude faster than competitive technologies. The 3D imaging capabilities enabled by this technology will propel new research in the field of neuroscience aimed at solving widespread, chronic medical problems like stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Once the 2PM entry market is addressed, this technology will be refined to address the much larger $5.8 billion 3D laser printing market. During the Phase I project, new mirror coatings were developed to handle the high-power lasers used in 2PMs. With the core DMM technology in place, this Phase II project is aimed primarily at control of mirror actuation and shape for reliable use in 2PMs. The first objective of this Phase II project will develop electronics for robust control of mirror actuation and shape. Objective two will center on refining the core DMM technology and fabrication methods to enable position sensing of the membrane and improve mirror stroke to satisfy customers in 2PM markets. The final objective will involve the creation of optical and mechanical assemblies and modules for incorporating the DMM technology into key microscopes. The result of this Phase II will be a market-ready DMM product with active focus control to address the growing 2PM market.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.