Abstract: A method of spatially measuring a plurality of nano-scale structures in a sample comprises the steps of: marking the individual structures at different locations with fluorescent markers, coupling the individual structures to individual positioning aids whose positions in the sample are known, exciting the fluorescent markers with excitation light for emission of fluorescence light, wherein an intensity distribution of the excitation light has a local minimum, arranging the local minimum at different positions in a close-up range around the position of respective positioning aid whose dimensions are not larger than the diffraction limit at the wavelength of the excitation light, registering the fluorescence light emitted out of the sample separately for the individual fluorescent markers and for the different positions of the minimum, and determining positions of the individual fluorescent markers in the sample from the intensities of the fluorescence light registered.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 6, 2018
Date of Patent:
October 6, 2020
Assignee:
MAX-PLACK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V.
Inventors:
Stefan W. Hell, Yvan Eilers, Klaus Gwosch, Francisco Balzarotti