descSPIM_LSmicro

Introduction

Documentation for descSPIPM Light sheet microscopy, website at http://lsmicro.descsimp.online/

What is a light sheet microscope?

A light sheet microscope, also known as a selective plane illumination microscope (SPIM), is an advanced imaging tool used in biological research. It is designed to minimize phototoxicity and photobleaching while providing high-resolution three-dimensional imaging of living specimens.

In a light sheet microscope, a thin sheet of laser light is used to illuminate the sample from the side, perpendicular to the direction of detection. This method reduces the exposure of the specimen to the intense illumination, minimizing damage and allowing long-term imaging of delicate or sensitive samples.

The light sheet microscope captures images by detecting the fluorescent light emitted by the sample. This fluorescence can occur naturally in the specimen or can be induced through labeling techniques such as fluorescent dyes or genetically encoded fluorescent proteins. By scanning the sample with the light sheet and capturing images from different angles, a three-dimensional image of the specimen can be reconstructed.

Sample

This chamber is different from the one shown in descSPIM

This chamber is a featured in the OpenSPIM Project.

Limitations

Scattering:

Shadowing

Improvements

Double side illumination, Pivoting and Bessel beam illumination

Pivoting

Lattice light sheet microscopy…

DescSPIM and OpenSPIM

DescSPIM and OpenSPIM are not the same organization.

DescSPIM

DescSPIM (Developing a Spinning-Disk Confocal Selective-Plane Illumination Microscope) is a project focused on developing an open-source selective-plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) system. It aims to create a modular and customizable SPIM platform that can be accessible to researchers and scientists for their imaging needs. The DescSPIM project focuses on hardware design, software development, and documentation related to SPIM systems.

OpenSPIM

OpenSPIM is a separate initiative that also aims to develop open-source SPIM systems. OpenSPIM is a collaborative effort by multiple researchers and institutions with the goal of providing an accessible and affordable SPIM solution. They focus on designing, building, and sharing hardware and software resources for SPIM.

the web page and info are available at OpenSPIM.org.

While both DescSPIM and OpenSPIM share a common goal of advancing open-source SPIM technology, they are distinct projects with separate teams and communities involved in their development.

Light sheet microscopy offers several advantages over traditional microscopy techniques. It provides fast acquisition rates, high resolution, and the ability to capture three-dimensional images over long periods without significant photodamage. This makes it particularly suitable for studying dynamic processes in living organisms, such as developmental biology, neuroscience, and cell biology.