Light sheet generator

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating light sheets suitable for use in single plane illumination microscopy may include a series of chambers in sequential communication with each other, the series of chambers including an optics system configured to convert a beam of light, such as a laser beam, into a planar light sheet. The series of chambers may include chambers having respective long axes oriented at an acute angle to each other to form a compact zig-zag pattern.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for generating a light sheet for use in a microscope, the system comprising:
 a housing including a plurality of elongate internal chambers in sequential communication with each other and containing an optics system, such that a first chamber contains a first lens, a second chamber extends from the first chamber and contains a second lens, a third chamber extends from the second chamber, and a fourth chamber extends from the third chamber and contains a third lens, each chamber having a respective long axis; and   a light source mount at a first end of the housing, the mount configured to receive a light source and direct a light beam down the long axis of the first chamber;   wherein the first lens is configured to focus the laser beam onto a first mirror, the second lens is configured to collimate the laser beam after reflecting from the first mirror, the second mirror is configured to steer the collimated laser beam into a fan shape, and the third lens configured to collimate the fan shaped laser into a light sheet; and   wherein the long axes of each pair of consecutive cavities form an acute angle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of paragraph  1 , wherein the first mirror is an anti-striping mirror. 
     
     
         3 . The system of paragraph  1 , wherein the second mirror is a scanning mirror. 
     
     
         4 . The system of paragraph  1 , further including a third mirror between the second mirror and the third lens. 
     
     
         5 . The system of paragraph  1 , further including a collimation device disposed between the laser source and the first lens. 
     
     
         6 . The system of paragraph  1 , wherein the first lens and the second lens form a 4f lens pair. 
     
     
         7 . The system of paragraph  1 , wherein the first lens has a focal length, and the first lens is spaced from the first mirror by a distance equivalent to the focal length. 
     
     
         8 . A system for conducting light sheet microscopy comprising:
 a microscope having an objective including an objective axis;   a sample apparatus configured to hold a sample spaced from the objective along the objective axis;   a light sheet generating assembly configured to generate a planar sheet of collimated light intersecting the sample at an angle transverse to the objective axis;   wherein the light sheet generating assembly includes a laser source operatively connected to a first elongate chamber containing a first lens, a first reflector disposed at a terminal end of the first chamber, a second elongate chamber containing a second lens and arranged at an acute angle with respect to the first chamber, a second reflector disposed at a terminal end of the second chamber, a third elongate chamber arranged at an acute angle with respect to the second chamber, a third reflector disposed at a terminal end of the third chamber, and a fourth elongate chamber containing a third lens and arranged at an acute angle with respect to the third chamber;   wherein the second reflector is a scanning mirror.   
     
     
         9 . The system of paragraph  8 , wherein the first reflector is an anti-striping scanning mirror. 
     
     
         10 . The system of paragraph  8 , wherein the first lens has a focal length and the first lens is positioned a distance from the first reflector corresponding to the focal length. 
     
     
         11 . The system of paragraph  8 , wherein the third reflector is mounted at an adjustable angle with respect to the third chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The system of paragraph  8 , wherein the scanning mirror includes a micromirror device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of paragraph  8 , wherein the light sheet generating assembly is modular. 
     
     
         14 . The system of paragraph  8 , wherein the light sheet generating assembly includes a housing and the elongate chambers are contained in sequential communication within the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The system of paragraph  14 , wherein the housing includes a laser source interface at a first end and a microscope interface at a second end. 
     
     
         16 . The system of paragraph  15 , wherein the microscope interface includes a C-mount. 
     
     
         17 . A method for generating a light sheet suitable for use in a microscope, the method comprising:
 generating a light beam using a light beam source;   directing the beam into an optics system disposed in a housing by directing the beam into a first chamber of a series of elongate chambers contained by the housing, a long axis of each successive chamber being oriented at an acute angle with respect to the long axis of the immediately preceding chamber;   focusing the beam, using a first lens, onto a first mirror;   redirecting the beam, using the first mirror, toward a second lens;   collimating the beam using the second lens;   redirecting and fanning the beam using a scanning second mirror;   collimating the fanned beam using a third lens.   
     
     
         18 . The method of paragraph  17 , further including reflecting the fanned beam toward the third lens using a third mirror. 
     
     
         19 . The method of paragraph  17 , further including reducing a striping effect in the microscope by rapidly pivoting the first mirror. 
     
     
         20 . The method of paragraph  19 , wherein rapid pivoting of the first mirror is performed using a micromirror device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of paragraph  17 , wherein the scanning second mirror includes a micromirror device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of paragraph  17 , further including collimating the light beam after the beam is generated by the light beam source.