Optical sectioning microscopy with planar or structured illumination
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Updated: May 29, 2026

A Guide to Structured Illumination TIRF Microscopy at High Speed with Multiple Colors
Published on: May 30, 2016
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. jmertz@bu.edu
Abstract:
A key requirement for performing three-dimensional (3D) imaging using optical microscopes is that they be capable of optical sectioning by distinguishing in-focus signal from out-of-focus background. Common techniques for fluorescence optical sectioning are confocal laser scanning microscopy and two-photon microscopy. But there is increasing interest in alternative optical sectioning techniques, particularly for applications involving high speeds, large fields of view or long-term imaging. In this Review, I examine two such techniques, based on planar illumination or structured illumination. The goal is to describe the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques.
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