Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system and method of integrated X-ray imaging and microscopic imaging of an imaging area having a sample on a sample stage. An X-ray apparatus may be disposed within the imaging area and be configured to acquire X-ray image data of at least a portion of the sample. A microscopic imaging apparatus may be disposed within the imaging area and be configured to acquire microscopic image data of the at least a portion of the sample. In some embodiments, a processing unit may then control the X-ray apparatus to acquire X-ray image data of the at least the portion of the sample, and generate one or more corresponding X-ray images; determine a region of interest (ROI) of the sample based on the one or more X-ray images; and control the microscopic imaging apparatus to obtain at least one microscopic image based on the ROI.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system and method of integrated X-ray imaging and microscopic imaging of an imaging area having a sample on a sample stage. An X-ray apparatus may be disposed within the imaging area and be configured to acquire X-ray image data of at least a portion of the sample. A microscopic imaging apparatus may be disposed within the imaging area and be configured to acquire microscopic image data of the at least a portion of the sample. In some embodiments, a processing unit may then control the X-ray apparatus to acquire X-ray image data of the at least the portion of the sample, and generate one or more corresponding X-ray images; determine a region of interest (ROI) of the sample based on the one or more X-ray images; and control the microscopic imaging apparatus to obtain at least one microscopic image based on the ROI.

Abstract: The present invention uses vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) as illumination source for simultaneous imaging of blood flow and tissue oxygenation dynamics in vivo, or a means to monitor neural activity in brain slices ex vivo. The speckle pattern on the brain tissue due to a VCSEL's coherence properties is the main challenge to producing low-noise high-brightness illumination, required for evaluating tissue oxygenation. Moreover, using oxide-confined VCSELs we show a fast switching from a single-mode operation scheme to a special multi-modal, multi-wavelength rapid sweep scheme. The multi-modal, multi-wavelength rapid sweep scheme reduces noise values to within a factor of 40% compared to non-coherent LED illumination, enabling high-brightness VCSELs to act as efficient miniature light sources for various brain imaging modalities and other imaging applications. These VCSELs are promising for long-term portable continuous monitoring of brain dynamics in freely moving animals.

Abstract: The present invention uses vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) as illumination source for simultaneous imaging of blood flow and tissue oxygenation dynamics in vivo, or a means to monitor neural activity in brain slices ex vivo. The speckle pattern on the brain tissue due to a VCSEL's coherence properties is the main challenge to producing low-noise high-brightness illumination, required for evaluating tissue oxygenation. Moreover, using oxide-confined VCSELs we show a fast switching from a single-mode operation scheme to a special multi-modal, multi-wavelength rapid sweep scheme. The multi-modal, multi-wavelength rapid sweep scheme reduces noise values to within a factor of 40% compared to non-coherent LED illumination, enabling high-brightness VCSELs to act as efficient miniature light sources for various brain imaging modalities and other imaging applications. These VCSELs are promising for long-term portable continuous monitoring of brain dynamics in freely moving animals.