High-speed stimulated hyperspectral Raman imaging using rapid acousto-optic delay lines

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Chemical Imaging
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) is a label-free imaging technique with potential in medical diagnostics.
• Current SRS methods face challenges in speed and spectral distortion, limiting live-species imaging.
• A high-speed platform is crucial for chemical specificity and accurate imaging of biological samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a high-speed multiplex SRS imaging platform.
• To achieve chemical specificity and minimize spectral distortion in live-species imaging.
• To enable rapid hyperspectral SRS data acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Combined spectral focusing excitation with a rapid acousto-optic delay line.
• Developed a hyperspectral SRS imaging system.
• Acquired data with a 3-dB spectral window of ~200 cm^-1 within 12.8 μs.
• Operated the system at a scan rate of 30 KHz.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a hyperspectral SRS imaging platform with high speed and spectral range.
• Successfully imaged a mixture of two different microsphere polymers.
• Acquired hyperspectral images of live fungal cells in human blood.

Conclusions:

• The developed platform enables rapid, label-free chemical imaging of complex biological samples.
• This technology has significant potential for advancing medical imaging and diagnostics.
• The system overcomes limitations of previous SRS techniques for live-species analysis.