Open AccessVIEW-MOD: a versatile illumination engine with a modular optical design for fluorescence microscopy
Author(s) -
Bei Liu,
Chad M. Hobson,
Frederico M. Pimenta,
Evan Nelsen,
Joe Hsiao,
Timothy E. O’Brien,
Michael R. Falvo,
Klaus M. Hahn,
Richard Superfine
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.019950
Subject(s) - optics , modular design , computer science , software , beam steering , microscope , tilt (camera) , spectral imaging , focal point , cardinal point , materials science , beam (structure) , physics , engineering , mechanical engineering , programming language , operating system
We developed VIEW-MOD (Versatile Illumination Engine with a Modular Optical Design): a compact, multi-modality microscope, which accommodates multiple illumination schemes including variable angle total internal reflection, point scanning and vertical/horizontal light sheet. This system allows combining and flexibly switching between different illuminations and imaging modes by employing three electrically tunable lenses and two fast-steering mirrors. This versatile optics design provides control of 6 degrees of freedom of the illumination source (3 translation, 2 tilt, and beam shape) plus the axial position of the imaging plane. We also developed standalone software with an easy-to-use GUI to calibrate and control the microscope. We demonstrate the applications of this system and software in biosensor imaging, optogenetics and fast 3D volume imaging. This system is ready to fit into complex imaging circumstances requiring precise control of illumination and detection paths, and has a broad scope of usability for a myriad of biological applications.