Laser emission based microscope

A method of detecting emissions from two or more lasing energy responsive species in a tissue sample, wherein the method comprises:

• tuning a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface in a scanning cavity at least a portion of which defines a Fabry-Pérot resonator cavity having a quality factor (Q) of greater than or equal to about 1×102 to permit laser emissions from a first lasing energy responsive species in a stationary tissue sample that contains two or more lasing energy responsive species including the first lasing energy responsive species having a first lasing threshold energy and a distinct second lasing energy responsive species having a distinct second lasing threshold energy, wherein the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface have a tunable reflection band;
• directing energy from a lasing pump source towards the stationary tissue sample disposed within the scanning cavity, wherein at least one of the second reflection surface or a lasing pump source translates with respect to the stationary tissue sample disposed within the scanning cavity;
• detecting one or more laser emissions generated by the first lasing energy responsive species in the tissue sample;
• tuning the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface to have a distinct second reflection band that permits laser emissions from the second lasing energy responsive species to transmit therethrough;
• and
• detecting one or more laser emissions generated by the second lasing energy responsive species in the tissue sample to generate a two-dimensional scan of the tissue sample.

A method for quantifying two or more biomarkers in a histological tissue sample, the method comprising:

• tuning a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface in a scanning cavity at least a portion of which defines a Fabry-Pérot resonator cavity having a quality factor (Q) of greater than or equal to about 1×102 to permit laser emissions from a first lasing energy responsive species in a stationary histological tissue sample that contains two or more lasing energy responsive species capable of associating with at least one biomarker and including the first lasing energy responsive species having a first lasing threshold energy and a distinct second lasing energy responsive species having a distinct second lasing threshold energy, wherein the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface have a tunable reflection band;
• directing energy from a lasing pump source towards the stationary histological tissue sample disposed within the scanning cavity, wherein at least one of the second reflection surface or a lasing pump source translates with respect to the stationary histological tissue sample disposed within the scanning cavity;
• detecting one or more laser emissions generated by the first lasing energy responsive species in the histological tissue sample;
• tuning the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface to have a distinct second reflection band that permits laser emissions from the second lasing energy responsive species to transmit therethrough;
• and
• detecting one or more laser emissions generated by the second lasing energy responsive species in the tissue sample so as to quantify a number of the at least one biomarker in the stationary histological tissue sample.