Two-photon excited fluorescence of the lens for the diagnosis of presbyopia

Presbyopia is a wide spread phenomenon in elder people and is caused by the hardening of the lens in human eyes. Research is performed to make such lenses again more flexible by application of geometrically optimised cuts through the lens with a femtosecond-laser. Different protein agglomerations are responsible for the flexibility reduction of the lens. Two-photon excited fluorescence of the lens can be used as a diagnostic tool to localise such protein accumulations. In in-vitro experiments with human cataract lenses and also lenses of the Philly-mouse it could be demonstrated that with age the fluorescence increases as presbyopia proceeds. The distribution of the fluorescing compounds are not homogeneous but rather cloudy. Discrimination of the compounds by fluorescence lifetime measurements in relation of the depth in the lens is possible.     

Ball lens coupled fiber-optic probe for depth-resolved spectroscopy of epithelial tissue

A ball lens coupled fiber-optic probe design is described for depth-resolved measurements of the fluorescence and reflectance properties of epithelial tissue. A reflectance target, fluorescence targets, and a two-layer tissue phantom consisting of fluorescent microspheres suspended in collagen are used to characterize the performance of the probe. Localization of the signal to within 300 microm of the probe tip is observed by use of reflectance and fluorescence targets in air. Differential enhancement of the fluorescence signal from the top layer of the two-layer tissue phantom is observed.     

利用毛细管X光透镜共聚焦微束X射线荧光技术对单根头发中元素空间分布进行无损扫描分析

头发中的元素与人的饮食和健康状况有关,对头发中元素的分析,不仅可用于刑事物证鉴别,还可为疾病的预防和治疗提供依据,因此,如何检测头发中元素分布等信息倍受人们关注。本文利用基于毛细管X光透镜和实验室普通X射线光源的共聚焦微束X射线荧光技术对单根头进行了无损扫描分析,分析了单根头发中元素的空间分布。在该毛细管X光透镜共聚焦微束X射线荧光技术中,毛细管X光会聚透镜的出口焦斑和毛细管X光平行束透镜的入口焦斑处在共聚焦状态,从而形成共聚焦微元,探测器只能探测到来自该共聚焦微元中的X射线信号,降低了背底信号对X射线荧光谱的影响,从而有利于提高该共聚焦X射线荧光技术的分析精度。该共聚焦技术中采用了具有高功率密度增益的毛细管X光会聚透镜,降低了该共聚焦X射线荧光技术对X射线光源功率的要求,从而保证了该共聚焦技术可以采用实验室普通X射线光源,降低了实验成本。实验表明,毛细管X光透镜共聚焦微束X射线荧光技术在单根头发元素分布检测中具有应用价值。     

应用MXRF分析技术测定植物叶片中环境元素

应用一种使用X光透镜的微束X射线荧光(MXRF)分析技术, 对北京不同地区的松针中重金属元素及S元素含量进行了测定和分析, 探讨了它们与大气污染之间的关系; 根据受损松针与正常松针检测结果的比较, 确定了污染元素。 对小叶黄杨叶片中部进行了二维微区自动扫描, 得出了小叶黄杨叶片对各种金属元素的抗污染能力。 研究结果从方法学上验证了使用X光透镜的MXRF分析技术在测量环境样品中的应用, 为环境科研、 污染治理和环境管理提供了科学依据。     

In vivo non-invasive studies on the human lens.

Progress in biophysical technology now permits us to monitor aging and precataractous changes in the human ocular lens in vivo as well as in vitro. We are employing two noninvasive techniques to measure changes in lens fluorescence and in one lens water compartment (T2) utilizing Scheimpflug lens fluorescence densitography and magnetic resonance imaging. These studies demonstrate age-related changes in the normal lens as reflected by enhanced fluorescence and longer T2 values. Precataractous changes can also be detected with this approach.     

Fabrication of a micro-optical lens using femtosecond laser 3D micromachining for two-photon imaging of bio-tissues

We report, for the first time to our knowledge, on the application of a micro-optical lens fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) femtosecond laser direct writing for two-photon fluorescence imaging of biological tissues. We show that the two-photon fluorescence images of a plant leaf tissue acquired with the micro-optical lens are comparable to that of a 5× objective lens. Our result represents an important step towards the application of micro-optical components fabricated by femtosecond laser micromachining in miniaturized nonlinear fluorescence microscopy applications, such as two-photon endoscopy.     

基于激光诱导叶绿素荧光寿命成像技术的植物荧光特性研究

针对植物荧光遥感探测中信号易受干扰的问题, 提出了一种用于评估植物生长状况及环境监测的荧光寿命成像技术. 采用凹透镜对355 nm波长的激光扩束, 再照射植物激发叶绿素荧光, 由增强型电荷耦合器件接收荧光信号. 采用时间分辨测量法, 连续用相同激光脉冲照射植物以激发相同的荧光信号, 同时不断改变激光脉冲触发探测器启动的延时时间, 从而能够得到完整的离散荧光信号分布图像. 对植物特定位置点产生的离散荧光信号进行拟合, 再运用一种改进型的迭代解卷积法可反演高精度的荧光寿命; 进而反演图像各点的荧光寿命以生成植物的荧光寿命分布图. 该方法所绘制的荧光寿命图比荧光强度图能更准确地反映植物内部的叶绿素含量, 并对活体植物叶绿素荧光寿命的物理特性进行了初步研究, 证明叶绿素荧光寿命与植物生理状态存在一定关联; 并且叶绿素荧光寿命与活体植物所处环境存在着复杂的关系. 未来将与生物物理学家们合作, 继续探寻叶绿素荧光寿命与植物生存环境的关系.     

GE‐MXRF analysis of multilayer films

Polycapillary x‐ray optics (capillary x‐ray lens) is now popular in x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. Such an x‐ray lens can collect x‐rays emitted from an x‐ray source in a large solid angle and form a very intense x‐ray microbeam which is very convenient for micro x‐ray fluorescence (MXRF) analysis. In this paper, a new method called grazing exit micro x‐ray fluorescence analysis (GE‐MXRF), which combines an x‐ray lens used to form an intense XRF source was developed and applied in multilayer film analysis. Such a method can give the information of film composition, density, and thickness. Through two‐dimensional scan of the film sample, the information of film uniformity can be acquired; meanwhile, this method is also useful in adjusting experiment condition during the film preparation with metal vapor vacuum arc (MEVVA) source ion implantation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

拉曼光谱编码的荧光液相生物芯片检测系统研究

随着医疗诊断需求的增加,生物分子检测技术越来越受到人们的重视,液相生物芯片技术作为一种高通量,多通道的分子检测手段在近几年得到了飞速发展。通过层层自组装方法制备以微片为载体的拉曼光谱编码液相生物芯片,并利用自行搭建的一套高灵敏度、高分辨率的光学系统,实现对液相生物芯片的定性与定量分析。光学系统由拉曼光谱检测系统与荧光显微成像系统耦合而成。在拉曼光谱检测系统中激光器发射出785 nm波长的激光,通过二向色镜,带反反射镜与物镜汇聚到样品上,样品产生的拉曼散射光,经物镜,带反反射镜,二向色镜与拉曼滤波片,最后通过凹透镜聚焦到光谱仪的狭缝上,光谱仪色散实现在线阵CCD上拉曼光谱的获取。荧光显微成像系统应用光学成像原理,通过调节凹透镜与405 nm的激发光之间的距离,使激发光通过物镜均匀的照射到样品之上,样品激发出的荧光,通过物镜,带反反射镜,二向色镜,滤波片与相应的凹透镜,最后成像到面阵CCD上。改进传统便携式拉曼光谱检测系统光路并选用相应波段的带反反射镜与焦距20倍的物镜完成拉曼光谱检测系统与荧光显微成像系统的耦合。为了减少两路系统之间的相互影响选用合适的二向色镜以及滤波片,在提高耦合系统获取数据的准确性中有着重要的作用。该系统通过对反应之后的液相生物芯片进行拉曼光谱检测,以完成对每个编码玻片的定性识别,即解码;同时激发反应后液相生物芯片的荧光并采集荧光强度图,根据每个解码玻片上的荧光强度值完成对目标检测物的定量分析。区别于传统荧光编码液相生物芯片, 拉曼光谱编码具有稳定性更强,光谱分辨率更高等优点。该光学系统集拉曼光谱检测系统与荧光显微成像系统于一体,解决了目前未有基于拉曼编码的液相生物芯片的检测系统的问题,并且可同时对多种目标物进行识别和定量分析,提升了实验结果的准确性。     

Resolution enhancement of digital laser scanning fluorescence microscopy with a dual-lens optical pickup head

The resolution of the cell fluorescence image captured by a digital laser scanning microscopy with a modified dual-lens BD-ROM optical pickup head is enhanced by image registration and double sample frequency. A dual objective lens of red (655 nm) and blue (405 or 488 nm) laser sources with numerical apertures of 0.6 and 0.85 is used for sample focusing and position tracking and cell fluorescence image capturing, respectively. The image registration and capturing frequency are based on the address-coded patterns of a sample slide. The address-coded patterns are designed as a string of binary code, which comprises a plurality of base-straight lands and grooves and data-straight grooves. The widths of the base-straight lands, base-straight grooves, and data-straight grooves are 0.38, 0.38, and 0.76 μm, respectively. The numbers of sample signals in the x-direction are measured at every intersection point by intersecting the base intensity of the push–pull signal of the address-coded patterns, which has a minimum spacing of 0.38 μm. After taking a double sample frequency, the resolution of the measured cell fluorescence image is enhanced from 0.38 μm to the diffraction limit of the objective lens.     

Increasing the imaging depth of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy with a miniature microscope objective

A miniature objective lens with a tip diameter of 1.3 mm was used for extending the penetration depth of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. Its axial and lateral focal widths were determined to be 11.4 and 0.86 microm, respectively, by two-photon excitation fluorescence imaging of 200 nm beads at a 735 nm excitation wavelength. By inserting the lens tip into a soft gel sample, CARS images of 2 microm polystyrene beads 5 mm deep from the surface were acquired. The miniature objective was applied to CARS imaging of rat spinal cord white matter with a minimal requirement for surgery.     

激光共聚焦近红外荧光扫描系统光学设计

为了实现对近红外荧光的高分辨率扫描,设计了工作在近红外光谱区的激光共聚焦光学系统。采用结构简单的凹凸双透镜物镜实现了照明光路和发射光路的设计,并采用Zemax软件进行了光学设计和仿真。实验表明:照明光路的聚焦弥散斑小于1 m,照明针孔处的聚焦光斑小于40 m,满足照明针孔的尺寸要求;发射针孔处的聚焦光斑小于10 m,满足探测针孔尺寸要求;同时照明光路和发射光路的MTF曲线的截止频率都分别满足其衍射极限分辨率的要求,照明光路在全视场空间分辨率420 lp/mm处MTF0.08,发射光路在全视场空间频率400 lp/mm处MTF0.07。     

Experiments and analyses of a new type optical system for computed radiography

A new high-performance laser scanning system is designed. In this system, a scanning arm consisting of a pentagonal prism and a scanning object lens is used to replace the traditional Fθ lens, and a circular imaging plate transmission mechanism is specially designed in order to meet the requirement of the scanning arm. At the same time, the stimulation fluorescence can be obtained by the scanning arm. Some main factors that influence the spatial resolution and the performance of the laser scanner system are analyzed, and the analysis results are presented, which is helpful for further optimization design of the system. Experimental results indicate that the images obtained by the system have good visual effects and can meet the requirements of industrial inspection.     

基于数字微镜的快速轴向扫描系统

为解决双光子荧光显微成像系统轴向扫描问题,提出一种基于数字微镜(DMD)的快速轴向扫描系统。该系统采用DMD选择光路,不同光路放置不同焦距的透镜组对光束发散角产生不同的改变,经物镜聚焦后得到不同深度的轴上扫描点。对该系统的轴向扫描距离、扫描点位置及衍射效率进行了理论计算仿真,结果表明:扫描系统采用4个模块以及5个模块时其轴向扫描距离均可达到1 mm,4模块系统中透镜的焦距为297.3 mm,5模块系统中透镜焦距为361.47 mm。轴向扫描点除边缘点外线性分布, 轴向扫描频率达到几十kHz,满足脑神经成像的要求。     

Ophthalmic Glucose Monitoring Using Disposable Contact Lenses—A Review

We have developed a range of disposable and colorless tear glucose sensing contact lenses, using off-the-shelf lenses embedded with new water soluble, highly fluorescent and glucose sensitive boronic acid containing fluorophores. The new lenses are readily able to track tear glucose levels and therefore blood glucose levels, which are ideally suited for potential use by diabetics. The fluorescence responses from the lenses can be monitored using simple excitation and emission detection devices. The novelty of our approach is two fold. Firstly, the notion of sensing extremely low glucose concentrations in tears, which track blood levels, by our contact lens approach, and secondly, the unique compatibility of our new glucose signaling probes with the internal mildly acidic contact lens environment. The new lenses are therefore ideal for the non-invasive and continuous monitoring of tear glucose, with about 15-min response time, and a measured shelf life in excess of 3 months. In this review article, we show that fluorescence based signaling using plastic disposable lenses, which have already been industrially optimized with regard to vision correction and oxygen/analyte permeability etc, may a notable alternative to invasive and random finger pricking, the most widely used glucose monitoring technology by diabetics.     

Fluorescence diagnosis of the status of the human lens <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis>

We have studied fluorescence spectra of the human lens in vivo for healthy eyes and in different stages of senile cataract development. We propose a spectral criterion, the lens opacity index, allowing us to differentiate between stages of cataract development. We show a high correlation between the stage of cataract development and the opacity index. We propose an empirical expression for determining the stage of senile cataract development from the value of the lens opacity index. The technique has been clinically tested.     

基于电动可调焦透镜的大范围快速光片显微成像

搭建了一种基于电动可调焦透镜(electrically tunable lens)的大范围快速光片荧光显微成像系统.通过引入电动可调焦透镜与一维振镜以实现成像物平面和光片位置的快速移动,再结合高速s CMOS完成快速光片荧光显微成像.另外实验中通过改善光路与提升动态成像质量,实现了大范围扫描并减少了伪像.最终对成像性能进行测试,本系统的纵向分辨率和横向分辨率分别达到约5.5μm和约0.7μm,单幅图像稳定成像的速度约为275 frames/s,成像深度可超过138μm,能满足对具有一定尺寸的生物样本进行实时清晰成像的需求.     

Lens tilting effect on filamentation and filament-induced fluorescence

In filament-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, we experimentally found that if the lens used for the creation and localization of filament is tilted, the signal to noise ratio of spectral measurement increases. Further study shows that with lens tilting, astigmatism occurs and the filament is split into shorter parts. In turn the shortening of filament reduces the generation of white light which is the major ‘noise’ source of the spectra.     

Toward sub‐micro‐XRF working at nanometer range using capillary optics

Capillary optics are used for X‐ray fluorescence micro‐analysis using the Cu Kα line provided by a rotating anode. The excitation beam is focused using a polycapillary lens on a Co–Ti sample. Cylindrical glass capillaries of various diameters are fitted to the X‐ray detector (Energy Dispersive X‐Ray (EDX) analyzer) and displaced along the irradiated zone of the sample. The fluorescence is studied as a function of capillary position. Good agreement is found between experimental and calculated lateral widths of the fluorescence collection, taken into account the cylindrical capillary critical angles relevant in the experiment. The influence of the cylindrical capillary diameter on the signal level detected is studied to estimate the possibility of lateral resolution increase of X‐ray fluorescence technique both in‐lab and in synchrotron environment. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞脂褐素及氧化黑色素自体荧光寿命成像研究

利用一种基于时间相关单光子计数器的双光子激发荧光寿命显微成像技术，对猪眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞内的脂褐素和氧化黑色素颗粒的空间分布及其荧光寿命特性进行了研究，尤其对于这些色素颗粒在光致氧化环境中的荧光寿命差异进行了分析.结果表明，利用荧光寿命测量能有效区分视网膜色素上皮层细胞中的多组分荧光团，利用荧光寿命的衰减参数可分辨正常及异常的荧光现象.该方法有望发展成为一种用于眼科临床诊断及病理学研究的高灵敏度的工具，对眼底细胞随年龄增长的衰老机理的研究具有重要的意义.