Method of 3-dimensional imaging of activated samples

摘要

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an optical system with multiple detectors and a processor. The optical system is configured to produce images of an optical source in a first dimension and a second dimension substantially orthogonal to the first dimension at each detector at a given time. Each image from the images is based on an interference of an emission from the optical source in a first direction and an emission from the optical source in a second direction different from the first direction. The processor is configured to calculate a position in a third dimension based on the images. The third dimension is substantially orthogonal to the first dimension and the second dimension.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
activating a first subset of optical labels in a sample; exciting the activated optical labels of the first subset such that optical energy is emitted from the activated optical labels of the first subset in a plurality of directions; interfering the optical energy emitted from the activated optical labels of the first subset in the plurality of directions to produce a plurality of output beams; detecting a plurality of images based on the plurality of output beams, each image from the plurality of images based on an output beam from the plurality of output beams; determining three-dimensional position information of the optical labels of the first subset based on each image from the plurality of images; de-activating the activated optical labels of the first subset so that no further optical signals can be detected for those de-activated optical labels of the first subset; repeating the activating, exciting, interfering, determining, and de-activating for a second subset of optical labels in the sample; wherein each optical label in the first subset and the second subset is separable and identifiable as a sub-diffractive sized point source.