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Related Concept Videos

Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy01:18

Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy

Optical microscopy uses optic principles to provide detailed images of samples. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek designed the first compound optical microscope in the 17th century to visualize blood cells, bacteria, and yeast cells. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes with enhanced magnification and resolution.
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In-phase-contrast microscopes, interference between light directly passing through a cell and light refracted by cellular components is used to create high-contrast, high-resolution images without staining. It is the oldest and simplest type of microscope that creates an image by altering the wavelengths of light rays passing through the specimen. Altered wavelength paths are created using an annular stop in the condenser. The annular stop produces a hollow cone of...
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Conducting Multiple Imaging Modes with One Fluorescence Microscope
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Published on: October 28, 2018

Multifunctional darkfield microscopy using an axicon.

Ming Lei1, Baoli Yao

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710119, China. leiming@opt.ac.cn

Journal of Biomedical Optics
|November 22, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A novel multifunctional darkfield microscope using an axicon offers high image contrast and convenient switching between darkfield and brightfield microscopy. This versatile platform integrates darkfield, fluorescence microscopy, and microspectrophotometry for detailed specimen analysis.

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Area of Science:

  • Optical microscopy
  • Spectroscopy
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Conventional darkfield microscopy faces limitations in illuminating flux transmittance and image contrast.
  • Integrating multiple microscopy and spectroscopy functions into a single platform can enhance experimental efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and demonstrate a multifunctional darkfield microscopy system utilizing an axicon.
  • To combine darkfield, fluorescence microscopy, and microspectrophotometry capabilities in a single apparatus.
  • To highlight the advantages of the axicon-based system over conventional methods.

Main Methods:

  • Implementation of an axicon in a darkfield microscopy setup.
  • Integration of fluorescence microscopy and microspectrophotometry modules.
  • Acquisition of darkfield, brightfield, and fluorescent micrographs.
  • Measurement of spectra from microsized specimens.

Main Results:

  • The axicon-based system achieves high transmittance of illuminating flux and high image contrast.
  • Seamless switching between darkfield and brightfield microscopy modes is demonstrated.
  • Fluorescent micrographs and spectral data from various microsized specimens were successfully obtained.

Conclusions:

  • The multifunctional darkfield microscopy system using an axicon provides a versatile and efficient platform for optical analysis.
  • The system offers significant advantages in image quality and operational convenience compared to traditional darkfield microscopy.
  • This integrated approach facilitates comprehensive characterization of microsized specimens.