Interferometric scattering correlation (iscorr) microscopy
AssigneeCambridge Enterprise Limited
InventorsQuentin Alexis Peter, Raphaël Jacquat, Georg Krainer, Tuomas Pertti Jonathan Knowles
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Abstract
A method of characterizing one or more particles in a fluid, e.g. a liquid, using interferometric scattering optical (iSCAT) microscopy. The method involves illuminating a region of a fluid using an objective lens so that light is scattered by one or more particles in the fluid. The scattered light and reference light are captured using the objective lens and interfere at an imaging device. A succession of images of the interference is processed to determine image correlation values which define a gradual decorrelation over time from which a property of the particle(s) is determined.
Claims19
A method of characterizing one or more particles in a fluid using interferometric scattering optical microscopy, comprising:
- illuminating a region of a fluid with illuminating light using an objective lens to generate scattered light scattered by one or more particles in the fluid;
- providing reference light, wherein the reference light and illuminating light are coherent with one another;
- capturing the reference light and the scattered light using the objective lens;
- providing the reference light and the scattered light to an imaging device, such that the reference light and the scattered light interfere at the imaging device;
- capturing a succession of images of the interference;
- processing the succession of images of the interference to determine a succession of image correlation values, wherein the succession of image correlation values defines a decorrelation over time of the captured images of the interference;
- and
- determining a property of the one or more particles from the succession of image correlation values defining the decorrelation over time.
An interferometric scattering optical microscope system for characterizing one or more particles in a fluid, the system comprising:
- a particle detection region wherein, in use, the particle detection region comprises one or more particles in a fluid;
- a source of illuminating light;
- a source of reference light, wherein the reference light and illuminating light are coherent with one another;
- an objective lens to direct the illuminating light to illuminate the particle detection region through the interface such that the illuminating light is scattered by the one or more particles,
- wherein the objective lens is configured to capture the reference light and the scattered light;
- an imaging device;
- an optical system to provide the reference light and the scattered light to the imaging device such that the reference light and the scattered light interfere at the imaging device;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- capture a succession of images of the interference
- process the succession of images of the interference to determine a succession of image correlation values, wherein the succession of image correlation values defines a decorrelation over time of the captured images of the interference;
- and
- determine a property of the one or more particles from the succession of image correlation values defining the decorrelation over time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.