Multi-Photon Microscopy
Fundamentals
Multi-photon microscopy uses ultra-short laser pulses to induce quantum behaviour.When the laser pulse is very short, the individual packets of light, called photons
are bunched together in a way that allows them to act in pairs, as if they were larger photons
In the quantum picture, larger equates to shorter wavelength light, so infared light (wavelength 1000nm)
can act like green light (wavelength 500nm).
There are several reasons why you would want to do this.
- Longer wavelengths pass through tissues samples much better.
- The bunching only happens at the focus. A natural confocal pinhole!
- Longer wavelengths have less photo-bleaching and toxicity.
Historically, there were several reasons why you would not want to do this.
- Ultrafast lasers are complicated.
- Ultrafast lasers are expensive.
- Ultrafast lasers are unrealiable.
PXYL have changed all that. Now we can say, when done the PXYL way...
- Multi-photon microscopy is point and click easy.
- Multi-photon microscopy is the same price as a simple confocal.
- Multi-photon microscopes can be set up in 30 mins and run for years.
Laser Technology
PXYL's Contribution
PXYL has taken the multi-photon microscopy and redesigned it so that it is simpler to use, smaller and cheaper.
Comparison
Confocal
Light Sheet
You have probably heard great things about light sheet microscopy for 3D imaging.In reality, sample mounting is the biggest problem. Particularly if you want to work in standard well plate formats.
Also light sheet requires the samples to be cleared before deep imaging is possible
So if you want to do live imaging in well plates, light sheet is not ideal
Multi-photon microscopy can see deeper because it uses longer wavelengths which scatter less, and produce less auto-fluorescence.
Multi-photon uses conventional objectives which means that access to multi-well plates is not a problem.
Advantages
- Hands-off, Maintence Free System
- Low power consumption (<100W ) meaning negligible heat loading
- No service costs or consumables