Systems and Methods of All-Optical Fourier Phase Contrast Imaging Using Dye Doped Liquid Crystals

An assembly for converting a microscope into a multi-modal microscope, the microscope comprising a microscope objective and a specimen stage, wherein the microscope objective is constructed and arranged to collect coherent light from a coherent light source directed toward the specimen stage, the assembly comprising:

• a first optical Fourier element that Fourier transforms light from the coherent light source, wherein the Fourier transform occurs in a Fourier plane;
• a cell in the Fourier plane arranged to receive light from the first optical Fourier element, wherein the cell comprises liquid crystal molecules having a phase transition temperature, and wherein at temperatures exceeding the phase transition temperature, light transmitting through the liquid crystal molecules obtains a different phase than light transmitting through the liquid crystal molecules at temperatures below the phase transition temperature;
• a second optical Fourier element arranged to receive light from the cell and inversely Fourier transform the received light to provide an image;
• an image sensor that detects the image and generates an electronic representation of the image;
• an optical element to direct at least a part of the light toward a fluorescence imaging system;
• and
• an adaptor capable of coupling the first and second Fourier elements, the cell, the image sensor and the optical element to the microscope such that the first Fourier element Fourier transforms light collected by the microscope objective.

A method for converting a microscope into a phase contrast microscope, the microscope comprising a microscope objective and a specimen stage, wherein the microscope objective is constructed and arranged to collect coherent light from a coherent light source directed toward the specimen stage, the method comprising:

• providing the microscope;
• and
• coupling a phase contrast assembly to the microscope, the phase contrast assembly comprising:
• a first optical Fourier element for Fourier transforming light from the coherent light source, wherein the Fourier transforming occurs in a Fourier plane;
• a cell in the Fourier plane arranged for receiving light from the first optical Fourier element, wherein the cell comprises liquid crystal molecules having a phase transition temperature, and wherein at temperatures exceeding the phase transition temperature, light transmitting through the liquid crystal molecules obtains a different phase than light transmitting through the liquid crystal molecules at temperatures below the phase transition temperature;
• a second optical Fourier element arranged for receiving light from the cell and inversely Fourier transforming the received light to provide an image;
• an image sensor for detecting the image and generating an electronic representation of the image;
• and
• an adaptor capable of coupling the first and second Fourier elements, the cell, and the image sensor to the microscope such that the first Fourier element Fourier transforms light collected by the microscope objective.

A method for converting a microscope into a multi-modal microscope, the microscope comprising a microscope objective and a specimen stage, wherein the microscope objective is constructed and arranged to collect coherent light from a coherent light source directed toward the specimen stage, the method comprising:

• providing the microscope;
• and
• coupling a multi-modal assembly to the microscope, the multi-modal assembly comprising:
• a first optical Fourier element that Fourier transforms light from the coherent light source, wherein the Fourier transform occurs in a Fourier plane;
• a cell in the Fourier plane arranged to receive light from the first optical Fourier element, wherein the cell comprises liquid crystal molecules having a phase transition temperature, and wherein at temperatures exceeding the phase transition temperature, light transmitting through the liquid crystal molecules obtains a different phase than light transmitting through the liquid crystal molecules at temperatures below the phase transition temperature;
• a second optical Fourier element arranged to receive light from the cell and inversely Fourier transform the received light to provide an image;
• an image sensor that detects the image and generates an electronic representation of the image;
• an optical element to direct at least a part of the light toward a fluorescence imaging system;
• and
• an adaptor capable of coupling the first and second Fourier elements, the cell, the image sensor and an optical element to the microscope such that the first Fourier element Fourier transforms light collected by the microscope objective.

A system for converting a microscope into a phase contrast microscope, the microscope comprising a microscope objective and a specimen stage, wherein the microscope objective is constructed and arranged to collect coherent light directed toward the specimen stage, the system comprising:

• a coherent light source;
• and
• a phase contrast assembly comprising:
• a first optical Fourier element that Fourier transforms light from the coherent light source, wherein the Fourier transform occurs in a Fourier plane;
• a cell in the Fourier plane arranged to receive light from the first optical Fourier element, wherein the cell comprises liquid crystal molecules having a phase transition temperature, and wherein at temperatures exceeding the phase transition temperature, light transmitting through the liquid crystal molecules obtains a different phase than light transmitting through the liquid crystal molecules at temperatures below the phase transition temperature;
• a second optical Fourier element arranged to receive light from the cell and inversely Fourier transform the received light to provide an image;
• an image sensor that detects the image and generates an electronic representation of the image;
• and
• an adaptor capable of coupling the first and second Fourier elements, the cell, and the image sensor to the microscope such that the first Fourier element Fourier transforms light collected by the microscope objective.

A system for converting a microscope into a multi-modal microscope, the microscope comprising a microscope objective and a specimen stage, wherein the microscope objective is constructed and arranged to collect coherent light directed toward the specimen stage, the system comprising:

• a coherent light source;
• and
• a multi-modal assembly comprising:
• a first optical Fourier element that Fourier transforms light from the coherent light source, wherein the Fourier transform occurs in a Fourier plane;
• a cell in the Fourier plane arranged to receive light from the first optical Fourier element, wherein the cell comprises liquid crystal molecules having a phase transition temperature, and wherein at temperatures exceeding the phase transition temperature, light transmitting through the liquid crystal molecules obtains a different phase than light transmitting through the liquid crystal molecules at temperatures below the phase transition temperature;
• a second optical Fourier element arranged to receive light from the cell and inversely Fourier transform the received light to provide an image;
• an image sensor that detects the image and generates an electronic representation of the image;
• an optical element to direct at least a part of the light toward a fluorescence imaging system;
• and
• an adaptor capable of coupling the first and second Fourier elements, the cell, the image sensor and the optical element to the microscope such that the first Fourier element Fourier transforms light collected by the microscope objective.