SPECTRAL IMAGING SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC OPTICAL CORRECTION

• US 20090096914A1
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Akoya Biosciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation Incorporated (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Domenicali, Peter L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,330,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/345
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2803 using photoelectric array detector
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/146 with corrections for use in multiple wavelength bands, such as infrared and visible light, e.g. FLIR systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/361 Optical details, e.g. image relay to the camera or image sensor G02B21/364 takes precedence; illumination details G02B21/06 and subgroups

Abstract

Disclosed herein are multispectral detection methods and systems that can be used with image-forming optics configured to form an image of a sample. The systems include: (a) an imaging detector; (b) relay optics that include multiple optical elements, the relay optics positioned to relay the image formed by the image-forming optics to the imaging detector; (c) an actuator coupled to one of the optical elements in the relay optics and configured to adjust a position of the coupled optical element; and (d) control electronics configured to cause the actuator to adjust the position of the coupled optical element in the relay optics in response to a wavelength band selection by a wavelength selection element positioned to select one wavelength band for the image from among two or more wavelength bands within an overall wavelength range.

Claims

1. A multispectral detection system for use with image-forming optics configured to form an image of a sample, the detection system comprising:

an imaging detector;

relay optics comprising multiple optical elements, the relay optics positioned to relay the image formed by the image-forming optics to the imaging detector;

an actuator coupled to one of the optical elements in the relay optics and configured to adjust a position of the coupled optical element; and

control electronics configured to cause the actuator to adjust the position of the coupled optical element in the relay optics in response to a wavelength band selection by a wavelength selection element positioned to select one wavelength band for the image from among two or more wavelength bands within an overall wavelength range.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the image-forming optics.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging detector, relay optics, actuator, and control optics are part of a multispectral camera, and wherein the multispectral camera further comprises a modular housing that can be releasably coupled to a housing for the image-forming optics.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the wavelength selection element.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control electronics are configured to adjust the position of the coupled optical element to maintain a focus of the image in response to the wavelength band selection.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control electronics are configured to adjust the position of the coupled optical element to maintain a magnification of the image in response to the wavelength band selection.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second actuator coupled to a second one of the optical elements in the relay optics and configured to adjust a position of the coupled second one of the optical elements.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control electronics are configured to adjust the positions of each of the coupled optical elements to maintain a focus of the image, a magnification of the image, or both, in response to the wavelength band selection.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control electronics are further configured to control the selection of the wavelength band by the wavelength selection element in response to a user input or preprogrammed protocol.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a magnification of the image formed by the image-forming optics changes in response to the wavelength band selection, and wherein the control electronics are configured to adjust the position of the coupled optical element so that a magnification of the image on the imaging detector does not change in response to the wavelength band selection.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the overall wavelength range comprises a spectral range of 200 nm or more.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the selected wavelength band comprises a distribution of wavelengths having a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) width of 50 nm or less.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the wavelength selection element is configured to select the one wavelength band from among 4 or more wavelength bands.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the image-forming optics comprise a microscope system.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the microscope system is a fluorescence microscope configured to transmit excitation light to a sample, and receive fluorescence from the sample in response to the excitation light.

16. A method, comprising:

selecting a wavelength band for an image from among two or more wavelength bands within an overall wavelength range;

adjusting a position of an optical element in a system of relay optics in response to the selection of the wavelength band; and

receiving an image from image-forming optics, and relaying the image to an imaging detector using the relay optics.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting a wavelength band using a wavelength selection element.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting the wavelength band for the image is performed in response to a user input or preprogrammed protocol.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the position of the optical element is adjusted to maintain a focus of the image in response to the wavelength band selection.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the position of the optical element is adjusted to maintain a magnification of the image in response to the wavelength band selection.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting a position of a second optical element in the system of relay optics in response to the selection of the wavelength band.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the positions of each of the adjustable optical elements are adjusted to maintain a focus of the image, a magnification of the image, or both, in response to the wavelength band selection.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting the wavelength band changes a magnification of the image formed by the image-forming optics, and wherein the position of the optical element is adjusted so that a magnification of the image on the imaging detector does not change in response to the wavelength band selection.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the overall wavelength range comprises a spectral range of 200 nm or more.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the selected wavelength band comprises a distribution of wavelengths having a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) width of 50 nm or less.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the wavelength band is selected from among 4 or more wavelength bands.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein the image is received from image-forming optics that comprise a microscope system.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the microscope system is a fluorescence microscope configured to transmit excitation light to a sample, and receive fluorescence from the sample in response to the excitation light.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising coupling a multispectral camera comprising the imaging detector, relay optics, and an actuator for adjusting the optical element in the relay optics to a housing for the image-forming optics.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the multispectral camera and the housing for the image forming optics are releasably coupled.