Adaptive optics confocal microscopy using direct wavefront sensing

Opt Lett. 2011 Apr 1;36(7):1062-4. doi: 10.1364/OL.36.001062.

Abstract

Optical aberrations due to the inhomogeneous refractive index of tissue degrade the resolution and brightness of images in deep-tissue imaging. We introduce a confocal fluorescence microscope with adaptive optics, which can correct aberrations based on direct wavefront measurements using a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor with a fluorescent bead used as a point source reference beacon. The results show a 4.3× improvement in the Strehl ratio and a 240% improvement in the signal intensity for fixed mouse tissues at depths of up to 100 μm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / cytology
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Confocal / instrumentation
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods*
  • Optical Phenomena*