Patent ID: 8947516
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: B82Y,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of imaging a microscopic object comprising: arranging a microscopic object associated with at least a first and a second semiconductor nanocrystal in the optical field of an optical microscope, wherein at least one of the semiconductor nanocrystals has a coating that has an affinity for a biological structure; recording a first fluorescence image of the first and second semiconductor nanocrystals at a first focal depth; recording a second fluorescence image of the first and second semiconductor nanocrystals at a second focal depth different from the first focal depth; and calculating the relative depths of the first and second semiconductor nanocrystals based at least in part on the first and second fluorescence images, wherein calculating the relative depths of the first and second semiconductor nanocrystals includes measuring a radius of the first semiconductor nanocrystal as it appears in each of the first and second fluorescence images, wherein measuring the radius includes determining a radial intensity profile, and wherein determining the radial intensity profile includes calculating an integrated radial intensity profile for a plurality of different angles.