# US 8,570,650 B2 · Method and system for fast three-dimensional structured-illumination-microscopy imaging

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,570,650 B2
- Document ID: US8570650B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/964,708
- Filed: 2010-12-09
- Published: 2011-08-11
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2009-12-09
- Assignees: Applied Precision, LLC
- Applicants: William M. Dougherty; Steven Charles Quarre
- Inventors: William M. Dougherty; Steven Charles Quarre
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570650B2

## CPC

- G02B 21/06: Means for illuminating specimens
- G01N 21/6458: {Fluorescence microscopy (fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16)}
- G02B 21/16: adapted for ultraviolet illumination {; Fluorescence microscopes (G02B21/0076 takes precedence)}
- G02B 21/24: Base structure
- G02B 21/367: {providing an output produced by processing a plurality of individual source images, e.g. image tiling, montage, composite images, depth sectioning, image comparison}
- G02B 26/105: {with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors (G02B26/101 takes precedence)}
- G02B 27/145: {having sequential partially reflecting surfaces}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A structured-illumination module included in a 3D-structured-illumination-based fluorescence microscope, the structured-illumination module comprising: a structured-illumination-module frame; a beam-alignment module including a central tilt mirror coupled to an underside of a top horizontal plate of the structured-illumination-module frame; a set of directional mirrors, one of which receives, at a given point in time, input, polarized, coherent light reflected from the central tilt mirror; three sets of beam splitters, on three arms of the structured-illumination-module frame, the each splits an incident illumination beam, reflected to the set of beam splitters from a directional mirror of the set of directional mirrors, into a coherent beam triplet; and a phase-shift module that receives a beam triplet, at a given point in time, generated by one of the sets of beam splitters and reflected from the beam-alignment module and that introduces a desired relative phase relationship among the beams of the beam triplet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A structured-illumination module included in a 3D-structured-illumination-based fluorescence microscope, the structured-illumination module comprising: a structured-illumination-module frame; a beam-alignment module including a central tilt mirror coupled to an underside of a top horizontal plate of the structured-illumination-module frame; a set of directional mirrors, one of which receives, at a given point in time, input, polarized, coherent light reflected from the central tilt mirror; three sets of beam splitters, on three arms of the structured-illumination-module frame, the each splits an incident illumination beam, reflected to the set of beam splitters from a directional mirror of the set of directional mirrors, into a coherent beam triplet; and a phase-shift module that receives a beam triplet, at a given point in time, generated by one of the sets of beam splitters and reflected from the beam-alignment module and that introduces a desired relative phase relationship among the beams of the beam triplet.