Optomechanical module for converting a microscope to provide selective plane illumination microscopy

A converted microscope comprising:

• a base engaged to a translation stage and a sample stage, the translation stage being adapted to move in the z direction and the sample stage being adapted to move a sample in the x-y-z directions relative to the base;
• a mount engaged to the translation stage for moving the mount in the z direction, the mount defining a mount body, the mount further including an excitation objective engaged to one portion of the mount body and oriented along a first longitudinal axis and a detection objective engaged to another portion of the mount body and oriented along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the excitation objective and the detection objective are oriented such that the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are oriented in a perpendicular geometric relation to each other, and
• a selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) arrangement in communication with the excitation objective and the detection objective, the SPIM arrangement including a light source for generating in alternating fashion a first plurality of light sheets through the excitation objective and then a second plurality of light sheets through the detection objective, and vice versa, for producing an excitation in a sample that generates an alternating sequence of a first fluorescent emission detected by the excitation objective and then a second fluorescent emission detected by the detection objective, and vice versa.

A converted microscope comprising:

• a base engaged to a translation stage and a sample stage, the translation stage being adapted to move in the z direction and the sample stage being adapted to move a sample in the x-y-z directions relative to the base;
• a mount engaged to the translation stage for moving the mount in the z direction, the mount defining a mount body, the mount further including a first objective engaged to one portion of the mount body and oriented along a first longitudinal axis and a second objective engaged to another portion of the mount body and oriented along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the first objective and the second objective are oriented such that the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are oriented in a perpendicular geometric relation to each other;
• at least one selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) arrangement in communication with the first objective and the second objective with the SPIM arrangement including a light source for generating in alternating fashion a first plurality of light sheets through the first objective and then a second plurality of light sheets through the second objective, and vice versa, for producing an excitation in a sample that generates an alternating sequence of a first fluorescent emission detected by the first objective and then a second fluorescent emission detected by the second objective, and vice versa, wherein the first fluorescent emission is oriented in perpendicular orientation relative to the second fluorescent emission.