System and Method for Intensity Stabilization for Quantitative Imaging

A system for imaging microscopic samples, comprising:

• an optical excitation path which directs light from a light source to at least one sample;
• a photosensor configured to output an electrical signal representative of optical flux to the at least one sample;
• a camera configured to receive an image of fluorescence light emitted from the at least one sample;
• and
• a controller configured to control an exposure time of the camera such that each sample receives substantially the same total optical flux during a duration of camera exposure which is terminated when a predetermined threshold representative of the total optical flux is reached.

A method for imaging microscopic samples, comprising:

• directing light from a light source to an object plane coincident with at least one sample;
• separating a part of the light to a photosensor outputting an electrical signal representative of optical flux to the at least one sample;
• forming an image of fluorescence light emitted from the at least one sample upon exposure to incident light from the light source;
• and
• controlling an exposure time of each image taken from the at least one sample such that, for a plurality of images taken, each sample receives substantially the same total optical flux of the incident light.