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US5777732A
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Luminescence-scanning microscopy process and a luminescence scanning microscope utilizing picosecond or greater pulse lasers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-04-27
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2015-04-27
Abstract
Abstract The description relates to a process for luminescence scanning microscopy with two-photon excitation, especially for examining biological objects (5). A laser pulse excites luminescent, especially fluorescing molecules and the luminescence emitted by the object (5) is measured and evaluated. In the process, the luminescent molecules in the object (5) are excited by laser pulses of over 10 -12 second duration. A luminescence scanning microscope for implementing the process has a detector (2), a filter (7, 8) for separating the light emitted by the sample from the laser light (4) and a laser light source which is a laser (1) emitting pulsed or continuous radiation.
Inventors
- 👤 Pekka Hanninen
- 👤 Stefan Hell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 03:03
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/0004; G02B21/002; G02B21/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
Process for luminescence-scanning microscopy with two-photon excitation of an object in which a laser pulse excites luminescing and/or fluorescing molecules of the object, and the luminescence light emitted by the object is measured and evaluated, wherein the excitation of the luminescing molecules present in the object results from laser pulses whose duration is greater than 10 -12 seconds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
Process for luminescence-scanning microscopy with two-photon excitation of an object in which a laser pulse excites luminescing and/or fluorescing molecules of the object, and the luminescence light emitted by the object is measured and evaluated, wherein the excitation of the luminescing molecules present in the object results from laser pulses whose duration is greater than 10 -12 seconds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation of the light of luminescence emitted by the object (5) is accomplished in the process of photon counting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein several scanning points of the object (5) are excited simultaneously and the light of luminescence emitted by these scanning points evaluated simultaneously.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein said measurement and evaluation step is implemented with a luminescence-scanning microscope comprising at least one laser-light source, at least one detector and at least one filter for the separation of the light emitted by the sample from the laser light, and wherein said at least one laser-light source is a laser (1) with pulsed radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 4, wherein the laser is a semiconductor laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 4, wherein the laser is a gas laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 6, wherein the laser is an HeNe laser or a krypton-ion laser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 4, wherein said at least one detector (2) is a high, signal-noise ratio detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 4, wherein said microscope further comprises a beam-scanning unit (6) for the controlled scanning of the object (5).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 4, wherein said at least one laser-light source comprises an array of lasers (1) and wherein said at least one detector comprises an array of detectors (2) arranged in an optically conjugated plane for the focusing of the object (5).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 4, wherein said at least one detector is an avalanche photodiode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
Process for luminescence-scanning microscopy with two-photon excitation of an object in which a laser pulse excites luminescing and/or fluorescing molecules of the object, and the luminescence light emitted by the object is measured and evaluated, wherein the excitation of the luminescing molecules present in the object results from laser pulses whose duration is 10 -12 seconds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
Process for luminescence-scanning microscopy with two-photon excitation of an object in which a laser pulse excites luminescing and/or fluorescing molecules of the object, and the luminescence light emitted by the object is measured and evaluated, wherein the excitation of the luminescing molecules present in the object results from laser pulses whose duration is 10 -12 seconds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
Process according to claim 12, wherein the evaluation of the light of luminescence emitted by the object (5) is accomplished in the process of photon counting.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
Process according to claim 12, wherein several scanning points of the object (5) are excited simultaneously and the light of luminescence emitted by these scanning points evaluated simultaneously.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
Process according to claim 12, wherein said measurement and evaluation step is implemented with a luminescence-scanning microscope comprising at least one laser-light source, at least one detector and at least one filter for the separation of the light emitted by the sample from the laser light, and wherein said at least one laser light source is a laser (1) with pulsed radiation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 15, wherein the laser is a semiconductor laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 15, wherein the laser is a gas laser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 17, wherein the laser is an HeNe laser or a krypton-ion laser.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 15, wherein said at least one detector is a high signal-noise ratio detector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 15, wherein said microscope further comprises a beam-scanning unit (6) for the controlled scanning of the object (5).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 15, wherein said at least one laser-light source comprises an array of lasers (1) and wherein said at least one detector comprises an array of detectors (2) arranged in an optically conjugated plane for the focusing of the object (5).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 15, wherein said at least one detector is an avalanche photodiode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
Process for luminescence-scanning microscopy with two-photon excitation for an object, in which a laser light excites luminescing and/or fluorescing molecules of the object, and the luminescence light emitted by the object is measured and evaluated, wherein the excitation of the luminescing molecules present in the object results from continuous laser light.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
Process for luminescence-scanning microscopy with two-photon excitation for an object, in which a laser light excites luminescing and/or fluorescing molecules of the object, and the luminescence light emitted by the object is measured and evaluated, wherein the excitation of the luminescing molecules present in the object results from continuous laser light.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
Process according to claim 23, wherein said measurement and evaluation step is implemented with a luminescence-scanning microscope comprising at least one laser-light source, at least one detector and at least one filter for the separation of the light emitted by the sample from the laser light, and wherein said at least one laser-light source is a laser (1) with continuous radiation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
Process according to claim 23 wherein the evaluation of the light of luminescence emitted by the object (5) is accomplished in the process of photon counting.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
Process according to claim 23 wherein several scanning points of the object (5) are excited simultaneously and the light of luminescence emitted by these scanning points evaluated simultaneously.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 24, wherein the laser is a semiconductor laser.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 24, wherein the laser is a gas laser.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 28, wherein the laser is an HeNe laser or a krypton-ion laser.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 24, wherein said at least one detector is a high signal-noise ratio detector.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 24, wherein said microscope further comprises a beam-scanning unit (6) for the controlling scanning of the object (5).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 24, wherein said at least one laser-light source comprises an array of lasers (1) and wherein said at least one detector comprises an array of detectors (2) arranged in an optically conjugated plane for the focusing of the object (5).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
Luminescence-scanning microscope according to claim 24, wherein said at least one detector is an avalanche photodiode.
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