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How OptiGrid® Structured-Illimination Imaging Works
At
the heart of OptiGrid lies a one-dimensional optical grid mounted on a
piezo-electronically driven actuator. Once inserted into the light path
of your illuminator, amplified voltage is applied to the piezo crystal
to change its length. The piezo crystal provides highly accurate
repositioning of the grid pattern.
The grid pattern is systematically projected onto the specimen
and is moved perpendicularly to the grid lines across the sample. One
structured-light image actually consists of three split-second captures
of the grid. The first image is taken at any position of the grid, the
grid is then moved linearly by 1/3 of the grid period length to capture
the second image, and another 1/3 to capture the third image. All this
typically occurs in under one second, generating one structured-light
image or optical section.
Optically speaking, the grid returns a strong signal wherever
focus is sharp and a weak signal where focus is soft. The patented
OptiGrid algorithm then eliminates the weaker signals from above or
below the primary image plane as defined by the grid. The resulting
image is free of any stray light or soft focus data, and can be viewed
live on your computer monitor at near real time.
The two-point discrimination of the OptiGrid is the same as the
resolving power of your selected microscope objective. We recommend
that you choose an objective lens with a high degree of spherical
aberration correction and UV-transmission capability (i.e., the
OptiGrid resolution using a 60X, 1.4NA oil objective would be 0.19µm
with 550nm wavelength).
Because OptiGrid utilizes the illumination source of the host
wide-field microscope, all fluorescence capabilities of that microscope
are maintained. When using fluorescence with the OptiGrid, the
excitation and emission filters and dichloric mirrors should be
optimized to the specific fluorophore being used.
For more information on OptiGrid™, call 1-800-430-3106.
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