Abstract:
A scanning microscope ( 1 ), having a light source ( 5 ) for generating an illumination light beam ( 7 ), having at least one objective ( 19 ) that focuses the illumination light beam onto and/or into a sample ( 21 ), having a beam deflection apparatus ( 11 ) that guides the focus of the illumination light beam over and/or through the sample, and having a detection device ( 29 ) that receives detected light emanating from the sample, is disclosed. The scanning microscope is characterized in that a means for generating a manipulation illumination pattern ( 37 ) is provided; and that imaging means image the manipulation illumination pattern onto and/or into the sample.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a Continuation of PCT application serial number PCT/EP2005/0501 10 filed on Jan. 12, 2005, which in turn claims priority to German application serial number 10 2004 016 253.0 filed on Apr. 2, 2004, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a method for examining a sample using scanning microscopy.  
         [0003]     The invention furthermore relates to a scanning microscope, having a light source for generating an illumination light beam, having at least one objective that focuses the illumination light beam onto and/or into a sample, having a beam deflection apparatus that guides the focus of the illumination light beam over and/or through the sample, and having a detection device that receives detected light emanating from the sample.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     In scanning microscopy, a specimen is illuminated with a light beam in order to observe the reflected or fluorescent light emitted from the specimen. The focus of the illumination light beam is moved in an object plane with the aid of a controllable beam deflection device, generally by tilting two mirrors, the deflection axes usually being perpendicular to one another so that one mirror deflects in the X direction and the other in the Y direction. Tilting of the mirrors is brought about, for example, by means of galvanometer positioning elements. The power level of the light coming from the specimen is measured as a function of the position of the scanning beam.  
         [0005]     In confocal scanning microscopy specifically, a specimen is scanned in three dimensions with the focus of a light beam. A confocal scanning microscope generally encompasses a light source, a focusing optical system with which the light of the source is focused onto an aperture (called the “excitation pinhole”), a beam splitter, a beam deflection device for beam control, a microscope optical system, a detection pinhole, and the detectors for detecting the detected or fluorescent light. The illumination light is coupled in via a beam splitter. The fluorescent or reflected light coming from the specimen travels back via the beam deflection device to the beam splitter, traverses it, and is then focused onto the detection pinhole behind which the detectors are located. Detected light that does not derive directly from the focus region takes a different light path and does not pass through the detection pinhole, so that a single-point datum is obtained that results, by sequential scanning of the specimen, in a three-dimensional image. A three-dimensional image is usually achieved by acquiring image data in layers.  
         [0006]     The samples to be examined are generally equipped with a marking, usually a fluorescent dye, that is optically excitable. These dyes can also be, for example, GFP (green fluorescence protein) or CFP (cyan fluorescence protein).  
         [0007]     For many experiments on and examinations of biological samples, it is necessary, in addition to the microscopic observation of the sample, also to perform a manipulation of the sample. U.S. application Ser. No. 2002 0196535 A1 discloses a confocal scanning microscope with which at least one region of a sample (region of interest, ROI) can be both manipulated and observed. The manipulation, and the scanning of the region necessary for observation, are accomplished sequentially; for example, manipulation can occur in the forward direction in a line, while in the return direction the region of interest, and if applicable the surrounding area, are scanned for observation.  
         [0008]     DE 100 43 986 A1 discloses a method for examining a sample by means of a confocal scanning microscope, in which firstly a preview image of the sample is acquired and then one or more regions of interest can be marked. Each region has specific illumination light beam wavelengths and/or illumination light beam power levels allocated to it, so that the sample can then be manipulated in the marked regions in accordance with the allocation.  
         [0009]     For some experiments it is desirable to be able simultaneously to observe and manipulate the sample. A laser scanning microscope that permits simultaneous scanning and manipulation of a sample is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,300. The laser scanning microscope contains two mutually independent beam deflection devices: one of the beam deflection devices guides the manipulation light beam over or through the sample, while the other beam deflection device directs the observation illumination light beam over or through the sample. The laser scanning microscope has the disadvantage that the light beams, namely the manipulation light beam and the scanning illumination light beam, coming from the beam deflection devices must be combined into one shared beam path, using a beam combiner, before entry into the objective. A very particular disadvantage of the necessary beam combiner is that the interference bands produced thereby in the image change during the scanning procedure because of the changes in the angle of incidence of the moving beam, and thus cannot be compensated for or calculated out in the context of image processing. The beam combiner furthermore produces a beam offset and thus results in considerable light losses.  
         [0010]     DE 100 39 520 A1 likewise makes known a confocal scanning microscope with the capability for simultaneous manipulation and object detection. Two beam deflection devices are provided in this scanning microscope as well, one for the manipulation light beam and one for the illumination light beam. In a particular variant embodiment of this scanning microscope, the manipulation light beam is coupled into the beam path of the illumination light beam by means of the deflection mirror associated with the illumination light beam. The deflection mirror is embodied to be transparent to light having the wavelength of the manipulation light beam, and reflective for light having the wavelength of the illumination light beam.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     It is an object of the present invention to describe a scanning microscope that enables both manipulation of a sample in at least one selectable region and (preferably simultaneous) observation of the sample, while omitting a beam deflection device associated with the manipulation light and the disadvantages (especially image artifacts) associated therewith.  
         [0012]     This object is achieved by a scanning microscope which is characterized in that a means for generating a manipulation illumination pattern is provided; and that imaging means image the manipulation illumination pattern onto and/or into the sample.  
         [0013]     A further object of the present invention is to describe a method that enables both manipulation of a sample in at least one region and (preferably simultaneous) observation of the sample, with the intention of largely avoiding the disadvantages (namely image artifacts and light output loss) known from the existing art.  
         [0014]     This further object is achieved by a method characterized by the following steps: 
        focusing an illumination light beam of a light source, using at least one objective, onto and/or into a sample;     guiding the focus of the illumination light beam, using a beam deflection apparatus, over and/or through the sample;     generating a manipulation illumination pattern using a means for generating a manipulation illumination pattern;     imaging the manipulation illumination pattern onto and/or into the sample; and     detecting detected light emanating from the sample, using a detection device.        
 
         [0020]     The invention has the advantage that no further manipulation beam deflection device is necessary in addition to the beam deflection device associated with the illumination light beam, since the pattern is individually adjustable to the regions that are to be manipulated  
         [0021]     The detection device preferably receives detected light emanating from individual scan points of the sample, several of the scan points being impinged upon by the light of the manipulation illumination pattern. During rapid scanning of the sample, the illumination light beam is guided continuously over the sample. In this instance, scan points are those portions of the scanning track swept by the focus of the illumination light beam during definable time intervals.  
         [0022]     In a particularly preferred variant, provision is made for first acquiring a preview image of the sample or of a portion of the sample, and selecting from that preview image one or more manipulation regions and marking them, for example with the mouse pointer of a PC by encircling them. A computer system (e.g. a PC) calculates from these inputs the manipulation illumination pattern to be imaged, and then controls the means for generating an illumination manipulation pattern.  
         [0023]     During illumination of the sample with the manipulation illumination pattern, it is possible simultaneously to acquire images of the sample confocally.  
         [0024]     The means for generating a manipulation illumination pattern preferably contains at least one laser. It is also possible, however, to use other light sources, for example lamps, arc lamps, high-pressure lamps, or LEDs.  
         [0025]     In a particular embodiment, the means for generating a manipulation illumination pattern contains a laser array, preferably a diode laser array, the individual lasers of the array being individually controllable. The output power of each single laser is preferably individually adjustable and adaptable to the particular requirements of the sample region to be manipulated.  
         [0026]     In another variant, the means for generating an illumination manipulation pattern contains an LCD element in order to project a manipulation illumination pattern in a manner similar to that of a beamer. In a very different variant, an array of preferably individually controllable micromirrors (DMDs) is provided for generation of a manipulation illumination pattern.  
         [0027]     In a further embodiment, the means for generating a manipulation illumination pattern contains an imageable mask that can be configured, for example, as an orifice disk or slit disk or pattern disk.  
         [0028]     In a preferred variant, the means for generating a manipulation illumination pattern comprises an addressable fiber bundle. Microoptics are preferably used here to couple the manipulation light into the individual fibers of the fiber bundle. One end of the fiber bundle is preferably arranged directly in the intermediate image plane of the scanning microscope, and can be positioned there. The end of the fiber bundle can be curved or beveled so that the manipulation light, upon emergence from the exit surfaces of the fiber bundle into the intermediate image plane, is deflected by refraction and is directed onto the beam path of the scanning microscope. This configuration has the particular advantage that back-reflected manipulation light does not arrive at the beam deflection device and thus also not at the detector of the scanning microscope.  
         [0029]     In a particularly preferred embodiment, the manipulation illumination pattern is imaged into an intermediate image plane of the scanning microscope.  
         [0030]     In a preferred variant embodiment, the objective is among the imaging means that image the manipulation illumination pattern, so that the illumination light is guided through the objective. In another variant, provision is made to image the manipulation illumination light through the condenser, the condenser in this case constituting the imaging means or part of the imaging means. It is also possible, for example in a 4-pi arrangement, to image the manipulation illumination pattern both through the objective and through the condenser.  
         [0031]     An incoupling means is preferably provided, which reflects the illumination light beam and allows the light emanating from the means for generating a manipulation illumination pattern to pass at least in part. This variant has the very particular advantage that time-variant interference patterns do not occur, since manipulation illumination light passing through the incoupling means, which means can be embodied e.g. as a dichroic beam splitter, propagates along a stationary, non-moving beam path, whereas the illumination light beam that moves during scanning is merely reflected by the incoupling means and therefore causes no interference problems as a result of multiple reflections. The incoupling means is preferably exchangeable. For this purpose, for example, multiple incoupling means can be arranged in prealigned fashion on a revolving turret or a sliding carriage, to allow easy introduction into the beam path of the scanning microscope. Stop elements or detents, which ensure correct positioning of the incoupling means, are advantageously provided in this context.  
         [0032]     In another variant, the incoupling means allows the illumination light beam to pass at least in part, and reflects light emanating from the means for generating a manipulation illumination pattern. In this variant as well, the incoupling means can be embodied as a beam splitter, for example as a dichroic beam splitter or even as a neutral beam splitter.  
         [0033]     In another variant, the incoupling means contains a mirror, which can be embodied e.g. as a half-mirror or as a strip mirror and which is arranged in such a way that light emanating from the means for generating a manipulation illumination pattern is reflected by the mirror into the beam path of the scanning microscope, whereas the illumination light travels at least in part past the mirror to the objective.  
         [0034]     In another variant, the incoupling means contains a deflection prism. The incoupling means can moreover preferably contain a filter or an edge filter.  
         [0035]     In another variant of the scanning microscope, the incoupling means contains photonic crystals, preferably ones with which individual light components can be directed in controlled fashion as if in small capillaries.  
         [0036]     Advantageously, in a particular variant embodiment, the manipulation zone is not confined to the confocal plane, but instead a manipulation, for example bleaching, is also made possible in the planes above and below the confocal plane. In this case it is advantageous to image the focus of the manipulation illumination light into the sample in “columnar” fashion. In the context of single-point bleaching, for example, this can be achieved, inter alia, by not completely illuminating the objective pupil.  
         [0037]     In another variant, the manipulation illumination pattern and the focus of the illumination light beam are imaged and focused into the same plane.  
         [0038]     In order to modify the size of the imaged manipulation illumination pattern, the imaging optical system can be configured as a zoom optical system. A modification of the manipulation illumination pattern (e.g. widening) by way of additional optics is likewise conceivable.  
         [0039]     The manipulation illumination pattern can be used for a very wide variety of manipulations; for example, bleaching of the sample and/or optical excitation and/or stimulated emission can be triggered. It is likewise conceivable to release bound dyes with the aid of the manipulation illumination pattern (Ca 2+ , glutamate, etc.; caged compound release) or to induce photoactivation of compounds (PA-GFP). It is also conceivable to use the manipulation illumination pattern as an optical tweezers, or to section or divide up the sample.  
         [0040]     The incoupling means is preferably arranged in an intermediate image plane of the scanning microscope, in the case of the half-mirror in such a way that portions in one half of the sample can be manipulated in controlled fashion. The particular advantage of this variant embodiment is that in the other half of the image, the illumination and detection beam path of the scanning microscope is entirely undisturbed. The image is not impaired by disruptive optical components, which is advantageous particularly when an AOBS (acousto-optical beam splitter) is used as the main beam splitter. Although in this variant the entire image field is not scanned, observation of the edge region of the manipulated zone, in which, for example, a bleaching operation is brought about, yields important information about the recovery behavior of the bleached molecules.  
         [0041]     The incoupling means can also be configured as a polarizing beam splitter cube. A polarizing beam splitter has the particular advantage that on the one hand the illumination light power level is variably adjustable using an additional rotatable λ/2 plate, and half of the fluorescent light can pass through the polarizing beam splitter in order to be detected.  
         [0042]     When manipulation light of a single wavelength is used, the incoupling means can advantageously be made up of an edge filter. The beam offset produced by the edge filter can be corrected by back-calculation and image correction, thus making it possible to evaluate the entire image field. Back-reflections of the manipulation light are also blocked, and thus advantageously do not reach the detector of the scanning microscope.  
         [0043]     Condenser-side incoupling of the manipulation light has the advantage that the scanning image field is not restricted. An alignment capability should exist, however, so that the focal planes of the illumination light beam and of the manipulation illumination pattern can be brought into congruence or, if desired, allowed to overlap slightly.  
         [0044]     The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0045]     The subject matter of the invention is depicted schematically in the drawings and will be described below with reference to the Figures, in which:  
         [0046]      FIG. 1  shows a scanning microscope according to the present invention;  
         [0047]      FIG. 2  shows another variant embodiment of a scanning microscope according to the present invention;  
         [0048]      FIG. 3  shows a further embodiment of a scanning microscope according to the present invention;  
         [0049]      FIG. 4  shows a further variant of a scanning microscope according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0050]      FIG. 1  shows a scanning microscope  1  according to the present invention that contains an imaging module  3  and a modularly attached means  37  for generating a manipulation illumination pattern. Imaging module  3  contains a light source  5  that emits an illumination light beam  7 . Illumination light beam  7  is reflected by main beam splitter  9  to a beam deflection device  11  that contains a gimbal-mounted scanning mirror  13 . Beam deflection device  11  guides illumination light beam  7  through scanning optical system  15 , tube optical system  17 , and microscope objective  19  and over or through sample  21 . Detected light  23  emanating from sample  21  travels along the same light path, i.e. through microscope objective  19 , tube optical system  17 , scanning optical system  15 , and via beam deflection device  11  back to main beam splitter  9 , traverses the latter and detection pinhole  25  that follows it, and lastly arrives at a detector  29  that is configured as a photomultiplier  27 . Detector  29  generates electrical detected signals proportional to the power level of detected light  23 , which are transferred to a processing unit  31 . In processing unit  31 , the detected signals are allocated to the corresponding position signals and then transferred to a PC  33 , on whose screen  35  an image of the sample is displayed. Means  37  for generating a manipulation illumination pattern is attached to the imaging module via a bayonet connector  51 . Means  37  for generating a manipulation illumination pattern contains a laser  39  whose manipulation light  41  travels via optical system  47  to LCD element  43 . LCD element  43  is controlled by PC  33 , and generates the manipulation illumination pattern that is imaged via optical systems  49 ,  55  into the intermediate image plane of the scanning microscope. The manipulation illumination pattern is deflected, by an incoupling means  57  that is embodied as a prism  53  and is arranged in the intermediate image plane, to tube optical system  17 , which together with microscope objective  19  images the manipulation illumination pattern onto or into sample  21 . Incoupling means  57  is arranged displaceably in such a way that the portion that is effective in the beam path of the scanning microscope is variable.  
         [0051]      FIG. 2  shows a variant of the scanning microscope according to the present invention in which means  37  for generating a manipulation illumination pattern encompasses a laser diode array  59  of individually switchable laser diodes. Manipulation light  41  emanating from the laser diode array is imaged by a microoptical system  61  onto an optical fiber bundle  63 . In order to couple manipulation light  41  out of optical fiber bundle  63 , a further microoptical system  65  is provided which images the manipulation illumination pattern into the intermediate image field of the scanning microscope. An incoupling means  57 , which in this variant is embodied as a dichroic beam splitter  67 , is provided in the intermediate image plane. The manipulation illumination pattern that is imaged by tube optical system  17  and microscope objective  19  into sample  21  can be varied by switching the individual diodes of laser diode array  59 . As a result, each individual fiber of the fiber bundle is, de facto, individually addressable.  
         [0052]      FIG. 3  shows a further variant of a scanning microscope according to the present invention having an addressable optical fiber bundle  63 . In this variant, the beveled end surface  69  of optical fiber bundle  63  is arranged directly in the intermediate image plane. The manipulation light emerging from optical fiber bundle  63  is deflected by refraction, and directed onto the beam path of the scanning microscope. In this variant, tube optical system  17  and microscope objective  19  image end surface  69  of optical fiber bundle  63  into sample  21 . The end of optical fiber bundle  63  can be positioned in controlled fashion in the intermediate image plane, as indicated by the double arrow. The positioning is controlled by processing unit  31  and by PC  33 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 3   a  is a detail view of the end of optical fiber bundle  63 . Depending on how laser diode array  59  is activated, manipulation light emerges from the individual fibers of optical fiber bundle  63 , the power level of polarized light  41  passing through the individual fibers of optical fiber bundle  63  being controllable by PC  33 .  
         [0054]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of a scanning microscope  1  according to the present invention. Scanning microscope  1  contains a light source  5  that emits an illumination light beam  7  that is directed through an acoustooptical filter  71  (AOTF=acoustooptical tunable filter) to main beam splitter  9 . Light source  5  is embodied as a multiple-line laser  73 . With the aid of acoustooptical filter  71 , it is possible to select which spectral component of illumination light  7  is to travel through the main beam splitter to beam deflection device  11  and, via the scanning and tube optical systems (not shown) and microscope objective  19 , to sample  21 . The spectral components that are not directed onto the beam path of the scanning microscope travel into a beam trap  75 . Acoustooptical filter  71  is driven via a high-frequency transmitter  77  that is regulated by a processing unit  31 . Scanning microscope  1  comprises a means  37  for generating a manipulation illumination pattern, which means contains a laser  39  that emits manipulation light  41 . Those spectral components that are to be imaged for the manipulation of sample  21  are selected from manipulation light  41  with a further acoustooptical filter  79 . All the other spectral components travel into a further light trap  81 . Further acoustooptical filter  79  is driven via a further high-frequency transmitter  83 . Means  37  for generating a manipulation illumination pattern contains a controllable micromirror array  85 . The manipulation illumination pattern is generated by exerting control on the individual mirrors of micromirror array  85 . The manipulation illumination pattern is imaged into the sample with imaging means  87  that contain a field lens  89  and a condenser  91 .  
         [0055]     The invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment. It is self-evident, however, that changes and modifications can be made without thereby leaving the range of protection of the claims below.  
         [0056]     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.