US 12,436,373 B2
Fluorescence microscope system and method
Kai Ritschel, Wetzlar (DE); Benjamin Deissler, Wetzlar (DE); and Dennis Jaehnert, Wetzlar (DE)
Assigned to LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH, Wetzlar (DE)
Filed by Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH, Wetzlar (DE)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/057,773.
Claims priority of application No. 21209766 (EP), filed on Nov. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0161143 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 21/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/01 (2006.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 21/0076 (2013.01) [G01N 21/6458 (2013.01); G01N 2021/0106 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluorescence microscope system for imaging a sample comprising at least two different fluorophores, the fluorescence microscope system comprising:
an illumination system configured to emit illumination light for exciting the at least two different fluorophores;
an optical detection system configured to generate images of the sample based on fluorescence light emitted by the excited at least two different fluorophores; and
a control unit configured to determine whether to image the sample in a concurrent imaging mode or in a sequential imaging mode, based on at least one characteristic of each of the at least two different fluorophores, at least one parameter of the optical detection system, and at least one parameter of the illumination system,
wherein in the concurrent imaging mode, the at least two different fluorophores are imaged simultaneously,
wherein in the sequential imaging mode, the at least two different fluorophores are divided into a first group and at least one second group, and fluorophores of the first group and fluorophores of the at least one second group are imaged sequentially, and
wherein the control unit is configured to determine whether to image the sample in the concurrent imaging mode or in the sequential imaging mode by:
determining a minimum value and a maximum value of a power of at least one light source of the illumination system based on at least one characteristic of each of the at least two different fluorophores and/or at least one characteristic of the sample,
comparing a working range of the power of the at least one light source to the minimum value and the maximum value, and
upon determining that at least one of the minimum value or the maximum value is outside the working range of the power of the at least one light source, determining to image the sample in the sequential mode.