Color translating UV microscope

• US 6,650,357 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quorum Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Richardson Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Richardson, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Vu
• Application Number:
  US09/402,467
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 348/80, 348/61, 348/29, 348/599, 359/350-353
• US Class Current: 348/80
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/32 Investigating bands of a spectrum in sequence by a single detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6419 Excitation at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6421 Measuring at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6423 Spectral mapping, video display
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/656 Raman microprobe
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6458 Fluorescence microscopy fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/16 adapted for ultraviolet illumination ; Fluorescence microscopes G02B21/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/47 for sequential signals

Abstract

A color translating UV or IR microscope for imaging living or dynamic samples in real time. The microscope includes a UV or IR light source and a first filter for cyclically separating light from the light source into spectral components which illuminate the sample. A device such as an image intensifier converts light received from the sample to visible polychromatic light, e.g., an intensified white light. A second filter set separates the visible polychromatic light into color planes. The first and second filter sets are synchronized with each other so as to enable the color planes to be recombined into a visible multicolor image, wherein each color plane represents illumination of the sample by non-visible light of different wavelengths.

Claims

1. A method of producing an observable image representing the differential absorption of light by a sample, the method comprising:

a) illuminating the sample with non-visible light;

b) receiving light from the sample as an image of the sample and converting said light image to a visible polychromatic light image; and

c) selecting a color from said polychromatic light image to thereby generate said observable image.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said illuminating light is ultra-violet light or infra-red light.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said illuminating light has a wavelength or wavelengths selected from a group of n pre-selected wavelengths or wavelength regions, n>

1.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said color is selected from a group of n pre-selected colors, n>

1.

5. A method according to claim 4, including synchronously changing the wavelength(s) of said illuminating light and said selected color.

6. A method according to claim 5, where the conversion of said light image to said polychromatic light image is carried out by a photon gain device.

7. A method according to claim 1, including synchronously changing the wavelength(s) of said illuminating light and said selected color.

8. A method according to claim 1, where the conversion of the light image to the polychromatic light image is carried out by a photon gain device.

9. A method of producing an observable image representing the differential absorption of light by a sample, the method comprising:

a) illuminating the sample with light of a first selected wavelength or wavelength region;

b) receiving light from the sample as an image of the sample and converting said light image to a polychromatic light image; and

c) selecting a pre-determined wavelength or wavelength region from said polychromatic light image to thereby generate said observable image.

10. A method of producing a visible image representing the differential absorption of light by a sample, the method comprising:

a) illuminating the sample with non-visible light, the wavelength or wavelength region of the illuminating light being cyclically selected from a pre-determined group of wavelengths or wavelength regions;

b) receiving light from the sample as an image of the sample and converting said light image to a polychromatic light image;

c) filtering said polychromatic light image to thereby obtain a wavelength or wavelength region therefrom for display as said visible image, the displayable light being cyclically selected from a pre-determined group of wavelengths or wavelength regions; and

d) periodically and synchronously changing the wavelengths or wavelength regions of the illuminating light and the displayable light.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said period is sufficiently short so as to integrate displayable light of different wavelengths or wavelength regions to the human eye.

12. An apparatus for producing an observable image representing the differential absorption of light by a sample, the apparatus comprising:

a) means for illuminating the sample with non-visible light;

b) means for converting light received from the sample as an image thereof to a polychromatic light image; and

c) means for selecting a color from said polychromatic light image to thereby generate said observable image.

13. A microscope for translating spectral information to a visible color image, comprising:

a light source providing light substantially not visible to the human eye;

a stage for holding a sample;

a first set of at least two filters for separating light from the light source into spectral components;

a lens system for illuminating the sample with light emanating from the first filter set;

means for converting light received from the sample to visible polychromatic light;

a second set of at least two filters for separating the visible polychromatic light into color planes;

wherein the first and second filter sets are synchronized with each other so as to enable the color planes to be recombined into a visible multicolor image.

14. A microscope according to claim 13, wherein the first and second filter sets are each located on wheels mounted to a common shaft.

15. A microscope according to claim 13, wherein the light conversion means comprises an image intensifier for converting images outside the normal range of human vision to images inside the range of human vision.

16. A microscope according to claim 15, wherein the image intensifier reduces the exposure of the sample being imaged in order to reduce effects on or damage to the sample.

17. A, microscope according to claim 16, wherein the image intensifier converts narrow spectral inputs to broadband spectral outputs to allow filter based color translation.

18. A microscope according to claim 15, wherein one or more of said filters have spectral responses engineered to compensate for differences in at least one of:

a) the intensity of illuminating spectra from the source;

b) differences in the spectral transmission efficiency of optical components employed in the lens system;

c) differences in the spectral photon to electron conversion efficiency of a photocathode of the image intensifier; and

d) differences in the spectral output of the image intensifier.

19. A microscope according to claim 13, including an intermediate set of at least one filter disposed so as pass from the sample only the wavelength(s) of the illuminating light.

20. A microscope according to claim 19, wherein the intermediate filter set is synchronized with the first filter set.

21. A microscope according to claim 13, including an intermediate set of at least one filter disposed to reject from the sample only the wavelength(s) of the illuminating light, thereby aiding fluorescent or autofluorescent imaging.

22. A microscope according to claim 21, wherein the intermediate filter set is synchronized with the first and second filter sets.

23. A microscope according to claim 13, including an intermediate synchronized set of at least one narrowband filter arranged to reject from the sample only the wavelength(s) of the illuminating light in order to enable any Raman re-emission spectra to be viewed.

24. A microscope according to claim 13, including polarizing means capable of transmitting the wavelength(s) being used for illumination, said polarizing means being located in at least one of first and second positions, the first position being between the light source and the sample, the second position being between the sample and the conversion means.

25. A microscope according to claim 24, wherein the first and second sets of filters are disposed on wheels mounted to a common shaft, the polarizing means being disposed on a wheel mounted to the common shaft in synchronicity with the first and second filter wheels.

26. A microscope according to claim 13, including a tubular support means for reducing vibration.

27. A method of producing an image representing the differential absorption of light by a sample, comprising:

a) illuminating a sample with light of a first desired wavelength(s) by imposing a first filter between a multi-wavelength source and the sample;

b) receiving light from the sample at a photon gain device which converts the received light to an intensified white light;

c) filtering the intensified white light with a second filter to obtain visible light at a pre-selected wavelength(s) for said desired wavelength;

d) forming an image from said filtered intensified white light; and

e) synchronously changing the first and second filters and repeating steps (a) through (d) to illuminate the sample with light of a second desired wavelength and form an image from visible light obtained from the intensified white light at a second pre-selected wavelength for said second desired wavelength.