Multi-modal microscopic imaging

An optical imaging apparatus configured to carry out multi-modal imaging of an internal tissue within a subject, the apparatus comprising:

• an adapter comprising 1) a first microscope interface configured to optically couple a first microscope system to an optical element inside the adapter to provide first imaging data of a sample, and 2) a second microscope interface configured to optically couple a second microscope system to the optical element to provide second imaging data of the sample;
• an optical assembly containing the optical element, the optical assembly being coupled with the adapter at an interface of the first and second microscope interfaces and that includes:
• an optical illumination arm of a chosen microscope system of the first and second microscope systems, the optical illumination arm comprising one or more illumination light-emitting elements and configured to direct imaging light to said tissue;
• and
• an optical stimulation arm of the chosen microscope system comprising one or more stimulation light-emitting elements and configured to direct stimulation light to said tissue;
• and
• a processor operably cooperated with the optical assembly and a tangible readable memory medium that comprises software-encoded instructions which, when loaded onto the processor, cause said processor:
• (i) to process the first imaging data, received from the adapter in light reflected, scattered, or emitted by the tissue to generate a first overlaid image and to process the second imaging data, received from the adapter in the light reflected by the tissue, to generate a second overlaid image, and
• (ii) to use difference in sizes, shapes, positions, or orientations of the landmark feature in the first overlaid image and in the second overlaid image to characterize an amount of distortion or warping of the landmark feature between the first overlaid image and the second overlaid image.