STTR Phase I: A novel dual paraboloid mirror device for enhanced light collection in confocal and fluorescence microscopy

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的广泛影响将是改善生命科学的研究。这项研究经常使用共聚焦和荧光成像技术来捕获高分辨率，高对比度的生物样品图像。然而，这些方法传统上需要高水平的照明光，导致组织损伤，破坏细胞分裂等正常过程，并与实验中测量的光竞争。提出的解决方案将改善这些显微镜的光收集。这将使研究人员能够最大限度地减少对样品的损害，从而消除当前的实验限制，并使在已经强大的研究平台上开发新的和广泛的应用成为可能。所提出的技术将对疾病和药物研究有用。拟议的项目将包括开发一种简单的、附加的、镜像样品室单元，能够通过大幅提高显微镜荧光收集效率限制来增强共聚焦显微镜的能力。这将需要克服设计上的挑战，因为在共聚焦显微镜中很少尝试使用反射镜来收集和重新聚焦发射的光。提出的研发工作包括：1)样品室和反射镜的设计和原型设计；2)安装硬件的设计和与现有共聚焦系统的集成；3)兼容模式的探索，包括全反射荧光显微镜和随机光学重建显微镜。完成所提出的物镜将导致开发出一种设备，该设备将光收集效率提高到超过目前40%的限制，与任何检测物镜兼容，并且不需要单独的光路到检测器。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。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be to improve research in the life sciences. This research often uses confocal and fluorescence imaging technologies to capture high-resolution, high-contrast images of biological samples. However, these methods traditionally require high levels of illuminating light, resulting in damage to tissues, disruption of normal processes like cell division, and competing with the light being measured in the experiment. The proposed solution will improve the collection of light in these microscopes. This will allow researchers to minimize damage to samples, thus removing current experimental constraints and enabling the development of new and far-ranging applications on an already powerful research platform. The proposed technology will be useful for disease and pharmaceutical research.The proposed project will involve the development of a simple, add-on, mirrored sample chamber unit capable of enhancing confocal microscopy capabilities by substantially increasing microscope fluorescence collection efficiency limits. This will require overcoming design challenges because the use of mirrors to collect and refocus emitted light has rarely been attempted in confocal microscopy. The proposed R&D work includes: 1) sample chamber and mirror design and prototyping, 2) design of mounting hardware and integration with an existing confocal system, and 3) exploration of compatible modalities, including Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscopy and Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy. Completion of the proposed objectives will lead to the development of a device that increases the light collection efficiency beyond the current 40% limit, is compatible with any detection objective, and does not require a separate optical path to the detector.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.