A Versatile Standard for Quantitative Light Microscopy

描述(由申请人提供)：定量光学显微镜是研究细胞功能的一种有价值的技术。通过定量测量外源和内源光学探针的光，获得了关于细胞内蛋白质相互作用、离子浓度、膜电位和其他形式的细胞活动的新数据。这些测量的准确性在很大程度上依赖于经过良好校准和表征的显微镜光检测系统。 这项建议描述了三种有利于定量显微镜的仪器的商业化发展。第一台仪器，Benchmark TM，是定量光学显微镜的通用标准。可靠且易于使用的高精度标准在商业上是不可获得的，这将极大地促进可重复性测量。目前用作显微镜光标准的技术存在一些实际困难。这些设备的校准光输出受到照明灯噪声和老化的影响。本方案中描述的电子标准的光输出与显微镜的照明器输出无关。Benchmark TM从单个光圈提供多个用户可选波长和照度级别的可重复平场照明。第二个仪器，ilium TM，可以用来监测和记录显微镜照明器的强度水平。第三台仪器RatioLite TM将提供双波长发射，用于荧光染料的比率记录。这些仪器具有独一无二的多功能性，具有任何竞争产品所不具备的操作模式。这项技术代表了光学显微镜领域的一项重大技术创新。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Quantitative light microscopy is a valuable technique for studies of cellular function. New data concerning interactions of intracellular proteins, ion concentrations, membrane potential and additional forms of cellular activity are obtained from quantitative measurement of light from exogenous and endogenous optical probes. The accuracy of these measurements relies heavily on well calibrated and characterized microscope light detection systems. This proposal describes the commercial development of three instruments to benefit quantitative microscopy. The first instrument, Benchmark TM, is a versatile standard for quantitative light microscopy. A reliable and easily used high precision standard is not commercially available and would greatly facilitate reproducible measurements. Technologies currently used as light standards for microscopy present some practical difficulties. The calibrated light output of these devices is affected by illuminator lamp noise and aging. The light output of the electronic standard described in this proposal is independent of the microscope's illuminator output. Benchmark TM provides repeatable fiat-field illumination at multiple user selectable wavelengths and illumination levels from a single aperture. The second instrument, ilium TM can be used to monitor and record the intensity level of the microscope's illuminator. The third instrument, RatioLite TM, will provide dual wavelength emission for ratiometric recording of fluorescent dyes. These instruments are uniquely versatile, having operating modes unavailable in any competing product. This technology represents a significant technical innovation in the field of light microscopy.