US 12,422,365 B2
Controller for an imaging device and method
Irmtraud Steinmetz, Wetzlar (DE); and Luis Alvarez, Wetzlar (DE)
Assigned to LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH, Wetzlar (DE)
Filed by LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH, Wetzlar (DE)
Filed on Jun. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/331,969.
Claims priority of application No. 22178513 (EP), filed on Jun. 10, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0400411 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 21/64 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/6458 (2013.01) [G01N 2021/6419 (2013.01); G01N 2021/6421 (2013.01); G01N 2201/06113 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A controller for an imaging device, the controller configured to:
control a continuous light source of the imaging device to emit first excitation light in order to excite first fluorophore species, the first excitation light having a first wavelength range;
control a pulsed light source of the imaging device to emit second excitation light in order to excite second fluorophore species, the second excitation light having a second wavelength range;
control an optical detection unit of the imaging device to receive fluorescence light emitted by the excited first fluorophore species and the excited second fluorophore species;
control the optical detection unit of the imaging device to separate the received fluorescence light into at least a first spectral detection channel and a second spectral detection channel, the first spectral detection channel corresponding to a first wavelength band comprising at least a part of an emission spectrum of the first fluorophore species, and the second spectral detection channel corresponding to a second wavelength band comprising at least a part of an emission spectrum of the second fluorophore species;
control the optical detection unit of the imaging device to detect photon arrival times of the received fluorescence light relative to light pulses of the second excitation light;
determine a temporal correlation between the light pulses of the second excitation light and the photon arrival times; and
determine a first number of photons and a second number of photons received in the first spectral detection channel and/or the second spectral detection channel based on the temporal correlation, wherein the first number counts photons emitted by the first fluorophore species, and the second number counts photons emitted by the second fluorophore species.