US 12,468,138 B2
Multiphoton imaging methods in a scattering and/or absorbing medium, and articles
Alexander J. Huffman, St. Paul, MN (US); Brian J. Gates, Osceola, WI (US); Jeremy K. Larsen, Farmington, MN (US); David A Ender, New Richmond, WI (US); Gareth A. Hughes, St. Paul, MN (US); and James D. Hansen, White Bear Lake, MN (US)
Assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US)
Appl. No. 17/763,763
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 2, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/061368
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 25, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/111321, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/944,062, filed on Dec. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0350127 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 21/33 (2006.01); G02B 21/02 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 21/33 (2013.01) [G02B 21/02 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multiphoton imaging method comprising:
a) immersing a semi-submersible microscope objective in a liquid medium that is at least one of scattering or absorbing, the liquid medium comprising a polymerizable compound, a multiphoton absorber, and a secondary component comprising a filler comprising one or both of a plurality of particles or fibers, wherein the semi-submersible microscope objective comprises:
i) a microscope objective having a protective barrel with an optical inlet and optical outlet; and
ii) a protective element affixed to the microscope objective, sealing the optical outlet but not the optical inlet, wherein a transparent portion of the protective element is aligned with the optical outlet;
b) directing laser light through the semi-submersible microscope objective and into the liquid medium in an image-wise manner under conditions such that multiphoton absorption by the multiphoton absorber occurs, and at least partial polymerization of the polymerizable compound occurs resulting in an article; and
c) removing uncured polymerizable compound to clean the article.