US8300669B2 — Control system and apparatus for use with ultra-f…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 46 words

A laser system comprising: a laser operably emitting a laser beam pulse; a pulse shaper operably varying a characteristic of the pulse; and a microscope operably receiving the shaped pulse; wherein the shaper assists in creating multiphoton intrapulse interference in the pulse to control multiphoton excitation.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 46 words

A laser system comprising: a laser operably emitting a laser beam pulse; a pulse shaper operably varying a characteristic of the pulse; and a microscope operably receiving the shaped pulse; wherein the shaper assists in creating multiphoton intrapulse interference in the pulse to control multiphoton excitation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the pulse shaper assists in suppressing three photon or greater transitions induced by the pulse.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the shaped pulse selectively excites probe molecules.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the pulse has a duration less than 51 femtoseconds at a focal plane.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the pulse has a duration less than 10 femtoseconds at a focal plane.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a detector; a programmable controller connected to the shaper and detector; wherein the controller, detector and pulse shaper act to measure phase distortions in the laser pulse and the pulse shaper compensates for the phase distortions at a focal plane.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 1 , further comprising a programmable controller connected to the pulse shaper compensating for phase distortions at the specimen introduced by different microscope objectives, by subtracting a phase distortion associated with each objective, the associated phase distortion being stored in memory of the controller.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller connected to the pulse shaper, the laser being tunable, and the controller and shaper compensating for phase distortions of the laser beam pulse at a specimen as a laser wavelength is tuned to different frequencies.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 81 words

A laser system comprising: a coherent light source operably producing laser beam pulses each having a duration less than 51 femtoseconds; a microscope receiving the pulses; optics acting upon the pulses; a pulse shaper shaping and adaptively correcting essentially all orders of spectral phase dispersion introduced by the optics and microscope; a detector detecting nonlinear optical signals while ignoring the excitation light source; and multiphoton intrapulse interference software instructions automatically causing the shaper to compensate for the distortions in the pulses.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 81 words

A laser system comprising: a coherent light source operably producing laser beam pulses each having a duration less than 51 femtoseconds; a microscope receiving the pulses; optics acting upon the pulses; a pulse shaper shaping and adaptively correcting essentially all orders of spectral phase dispersion introduced by the optics and microscope; a detector detecting nonlinear optical signals while ignoring the excitation light source; and multiphoton intrapulse interference software instructions automatically causing the shaper to compensate for the distortions in the pulses.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 9 , wherein the shaper assists in suppressing three photon or greater transitions in the pulses.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 9 , wherein the shaped pulses selectively excite probe molecules.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the optics is an objective of the microscope.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the pulses has a duration less than 10 femtoseconds.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 9 , further comprising: a programmable controller connected to the shaper and detector; wherein the controller, detector and pulse shaper act to measure phase distortions output by the laser at a focal plane and the pulse shaper compensates for the phase distortions.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system of claim 9 , further comprising a programmable controller connected to the pulse shaper compensating for phase distortions at the specimen introduced by the optics which include different microscope objectives, by subtracting a phase distortion associated with each objective, the associated phase distortion being stored in memory of the controller.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

The system of claim 9 , further comprising a controller connected to the pulse shaper, the laser being tunable, and the controller and shaper compensating for phase distortions of at least one of the laser beam pulses at a specimen as a laser wavelength is tuned to different frequencies.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 69 words

A laser system comprising: at least one laser beam pulse; a pulse shaper shaping and controlling nonlinear optical processes in the pulse; a microscope acting upon the shaped and controlled pulse; a programmable controller including programmed instructions operably controlling the shaper in a calculated manner without use of a learning algorithm; and multiphoton intrapulse interference software instructions automatically causing the shaper to compensate for the distortions in the pulse.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 69 words

A laser system comprising: at least one laser beam pulse; a pulse shaper shaping and controlling nonlinear optical processes in the pulse; a microscope acting upon the shaped and controlled pulse; a programmable controller including programmed instructions operably controlling the shaper in a calculated manner without use of a learning algorithm; and multiphoton intrapulse interference software instructions automatically causing the shaper to compensate for the distortions in the pulse.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller comprises a memory database, phase distortions introduced by a microscope objective at a wavelength of excitation are stored in the memory database and are automatically adjusted by at least the shaper.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller automatically causes a characterization measurement and compensation for the pulse.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the shaper assists in suppressing three photon or greater transitions in the pulse.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the shaped pulse selectively excites probe molecules.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the pulse has a duration less than 51 femtoseconds.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the pulse has a duration less than 10 femtoseconds.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 17 , further comprising: a detector; the programmable controller being connected to the shaper and detector; wherein the controller, detector and pulse shaper act to measure phase distortions output by the laser and the pulse shaper compensates for the phase distortions.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the programmable controller is connected to the pulse shaper compensating for phase distortions at the specimen introduced by different microscope objectives, by subtracting a phase distortion associated with each objective, the associated phase distortion being stored in memory of the controller.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is connected to the pulse shaper, the laser is tunable, and the controller and shaper compensate for phase distortions of the laser beam pulse at a specimen as a laser wavelength is tuned to different frequencies.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 132 words

A laser system comprising: laser beam pulses, at least one of the pulses having a duration less than 51 femtoseconds; a microscope including an objective; a programmable controller, the microscope being connected to and operably communicating with the controller; data indicative of phase distortions in at least one of the pulses, introduced by the microscope objective and laser scanning optics, being stored in a memory database in the controller; and a detector connected to an output of the objective, the detector including a nonlinear medium to generate a second harmonic associated with the pulses and a spectrometer to obtain a spectrum of the second harmonic, the detector operably sending a signal to the controller which then extracts a phase compensation for correcting and producing transform limited pulses at a microscope sample position.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 132 words

A laser system comprising: laser beam pulses, at least one of the pulses having a duration less than 51 femtoseconds; a microscope including an objective; a programmable controller, the microscope being connected to and operably communicating with the controller; data indicative of phase distortions in at least one of the pulses, introduced by the microscope objective and laser scanning optics, being stored in a memory database in the controller; and a detector connected to an output of the objective, the detector including a nonlinear medium to generate a second harmonic associated with the pulses and a spectrometer to obtain a spectrum of the second harmonic, the detector operably sending a signal to the controller which then extracts a phase compensation for correcting and producing transform limited pulses at a microscope sample position.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 27 , further comprising a shaper connected to the controller, the controller sending a signal to the shaper in response to the detected phase distortions in order to compensate for the distortions in at least one of the pulses.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 28 , wherein the controller moves an optical component associated with the shaper to compensate for the distortions.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 29 , wherein the optical component is a mirror.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 27 , further comprising computer software used by the controller to optimize a spectral phase of the pulses to change the photonic excitation of the pulses used for photodynamic therapy on live cells.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 27 , further comprising a shaper assisting in suppressing three photon or greater transitions in the pulses.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 32 , further comprising multiphoton intrapulse interference software instructions automatically causing the shaper to compensate for the distortions in the pulse.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 27 , wherein the pulse has a duration less than 10 femtoseconds.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 65 words

A laser system comprising: a laser operably emitting a laser beam pulse; a microscope operably receiving the pulse, the microscope includes different objectives; a programmable controller using software instructions which assist in controlling multiphoton intrapulse interference; and optics assisting in measuring phase distortions at a focal plane of the objectives and the controller automatically changing a characteristic of the optics if the objectives are changed.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 65 words

A laser system comprising: a laser operably emitting a laser beam pulse; a microscope operably receiving the pulse, the microscope includes different objectives; a programmable controller using software instructions which assist in controlling multiphoton intrapulse interference; and optics assisting in measuring phase distortions at a focal plane of the objectives and the controller automatically changing a characteristic of the optics if the objectives are changed.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 35 , wherein the optics are fixed and affect the pulse in a predetermined manner.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 35 , wherein the optics include a shaper operably controlled by the controller to change the shape of the pulse.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 35 , wherein the controller comprises a memory database, phase distortions introduced by the microscope objectives at a wavelength of excitation are stored in the memory database and are automatically adjusted by the optics.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 35 , wherein the optics include at least one deformable mirror.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 35 , wherein the pulse has a duration less than 51 femtoseconds at a focal plane.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 72 words

A laser system comprising: a laser emitting pulses; a pulse shaper; a microscope; a programmable controller selectively causing the shaper to optimize at least one of the emitting source pulses for: (a) two photon excitation, (b) three photon excitation, (c) second harmonic imaging, (d) third harmonic imaging, and (e) four wave mixing imaging; and software instructions automatically causing the shaper to compensate for the distortions in the pulse using multiphoton intrapulse interference.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 72 words

A laser system comprising: a laser emitting pulses; a pulse shaper; a microscope; a programmable controller selectively causing the shaper to optimize at least one of the emitting source pulses for: (a) two photon excitation, (b) three photon excitation, (c) second harmonic imaging, (d) third harmonic imaging, and (e) four wave mixing imaging; and software instructions automatically causing the shaper to compensate for the distortions in the pulse using multiphoton intrapulse interference.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 41 , wherein laser source bandwidth is broadened by self phase modulation.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 41 , wherein the controller comprises a memory database, phase distortions introduced by microscope objectives at a wavelength of excitation are stored in the memory database and are automatically adjusted by shaper.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 41 , wherein the pulses have a duration less than 51 femtoseconds at a focal plane.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2015-10-30	2016-04-30	2016-10-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2019-10-30	2020-04-30	2020-10-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2023-10-30	2024-04-30	2024-10-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Control system and apparatus for use with ultra-fast laser

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