Commercialisation of a high speed, digital confocal microscope
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Cell Physiology and Pharmacology
Abstract
We have developed a high speed digital confocal microscope that uses a digital micro-mirror device developed originally by Texas Instruments for projectors and televisions. The microscope allows optical sectioning of fluorescent specimens leading to acquisition of high quality images at faster speeds. We have identified several aspects of the current configuration that need to be improved before going to market. In collaboration with Prior Scientific Ltd., we will contract a professional optical engineer to scrutinise our design and then work collaboratively with Prior to implement and evaluate changes. We will improve the coupling efficiency of the light source, remove unwanted stray light and optimise the configuration of optical components. This will improve the image quality, reduce cost and simplify manufacture. Our aim is to develop a device that can be bolted on to existing imaging systems to produce a high quality, high speed but low cost device for use in biological research.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Nicholas Hartell (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Al-Osta I
(2018)
Imaging Calcium in Hippocampal Presynaptic Terminals With a Ratiometric Calcium Sensor in a Novel Transgenic Mouse.
in Frontiers in cellular neuroscience
Martial FP
(2012)
Programmable illumination and high-speed, multi-wavelength, confocal microscopy using a digital micromirror.
in PloS one
| Description | This award was a follow on fund award that emerged from an earlier grant (BB/E00461X/1 ). We worked with a company called Prior Scientific. Although progress has been slow, and much of the work has taken place after the grant officially ended, we are now in negotiations to licence the technology and we hope that they will develop a prototype in the next few months. if this is succesful, we may end up with a commercial product that will be of use to the general imaging community |
| Exploitation Route | As part of this grant, we developed a method that allows the use of digital micromirrors in imaging. This is patented and although our own use is to develop a digital form of microscope, the patent scope is broad enough to impact on other areas of imaging. |
| Sectors | Construction,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | We have published a paper that describes the work that lead to the development of this microscope and a patent that protects the IP behind it. We have worked with a commercial partner and we are now in the process of developing a prototype with the view to licencing the technology. Since writing this, we now have a nice prototype for demonstration and we have combined this technology with new technology we have developed to demonstrate that this system can be adapted for use as a super resolution microscope. A patent has now been awarded in the US. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Construction,Education,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | ALERT 14 |
| Amount | £638,019 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/M012034/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2014 |
| End | 11/2015 |
| Title | IMPROVED OPTICAL ARRANGEMENT |
| Description | The present disclosure relates to an improved optical arrangement for an optical imaging system or the like, comprising: an optical device; a digital micromirror device having a plurality of individually addressable micromirrors; a convex mirror; and a concave mirror concentric to the convex mirror. The convex mirror and the concave mirror define an optical triplet which is located in an optical path with the digital micromirror device and the optical device. The concave mirror comprises two concave mirror sections, one or both concave mirror sections being moveable relative to the convex mirror so as to control an image mapping between the digital micromirror device and the optical device. |
| IP Reference | WO2012063075 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2012 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | This work has led to the development of a new but related microscope that has produced two more patents and signficant further funding via normal BBSRC responsive mode routes, follow on funding and the ALERT 14 infrastructure theme |
| Title | IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SUPER-RESOLUTION MICROSCOPY |
| Description | This invention relates to a method of processing images captured following structured illumination of a sample through which significant improvements in lateral and axial resolution can be achieved. |
| IP Reference | EP3060953 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | This method forms the basis for the development of a new form of microscopy called SuperRAMP which is a super-resolution form of multiphoton microscopy. It is currently in use at Leicester University as part of a Super-resolution facility |
| Title | Improvements in or relating to structured illumination microscopy utilising acousto-optic deflectors. |
| Description | A new method to improve on the transmission properties of acousto-optic devices for their use in microscopy |
| IP Reference | GB1406150.1 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2014 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | This work has contributed to the acquisition of further funding via the BBSRC responsive mode, follow on funding and ALERT 14 programs |
| Title | Improvements in or relating to super-resolution microscopy |
| Description | A new method using structured illumination in combination with localization software methods to produce super-resolution imaging |
| IP Reference | GB1318598.8 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2013 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | This work has led to the application of a second patent and has stimulated significant further funding via BBSRC responsive mode and follow on funding, and more recently ALERT 14 funding for the formation of a dynamic superresolution facility at Leicester to use the technology. |
| Title | OPTICAL ARRANGEMENT |
| Description | The present disclosure relates to an improved optical arrangement for an optical imaging system or the like, comprising: an optical device; a digital micromirror device having a plurality of individually addressable micromirrors; a convex mirror; and a concave mirror concentric to the convex mirror. The convex mirror and the concave mirror define an optical triplet which is located in an optical path with the digital micromirror device and the optical device. The concave mirror comprises two concave mirror sections, one or both concave mirror sections being moveable relative to the convex mirror so as to control an image mapping between the digital micromirror device and the optical device. |
| IP Reference | US2014043460 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2014 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | The device is currently in use within my lab and we are currently in discussions regarding licensing the technology |
| Title | Digital Micromirror External Operation (XOP) Driver |
| Description | A driver for a texas instruments digital micromirror for use with igor Pro software. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2012 |
| Impact | This is used to control a novel DMD based confocal microscope that we are currently seeking to licence. It allows simple control of a digital micromirror for digital imaging and spatial control of light |
| Title | NiMan |
| Description | A suite of software that allows time resolved analysis of large stacks of images but also including a novel method for creating and analysing super-resolution images from structured illumination microscopy |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Impact | The software has been developed over many years and is used by members of my laboratory and collaborators to analyse data collected from the various research projects we have undertaken over the last 10 years |
| Title | NiMaq |
| Description | A suite of software that allows the control of imaging equipment including cameras, light sources, digital RF synthesisers, microscopes and scanning devices |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Impact | This software has been developed over many years and is the basis for most of the technical developments my lab has made over many years. We hope that it will either be released as an open source tool or form part of a spin out product that we can licence or sell |
| Title | RF Synthesiser External Operation (XOP) for Igor Pro |
| Description | A driver that allows control of a radiofrequency digital synthesiser for control of acousto-optic devices |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Impact | This is central to the development of our Super-resolution microscopes that use acousto-optics and forms the basis behind any future commercial products based upon this technolgy. It is central to the operation of our super-resolution facility that uses technology invented through BBSRC funding and which is currently used by members of our university |
| Title | Visible wavelength acousto-optical based super-resolution microscope |
| Description | A novel super-resolution microscope that produced improvements in lateral and axial resolution through a combination of patterned illumination and mathematical processing of images. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | Ongoing |