Abstract: The present invention relates to novel red fluorescent sensors for detecting metal ions, preferably zinc ions, which have a chemical structure corresponding to a compound of general formula I. These sensors are very useful for determining the concentration and distribution of zinc in living cells or tissues, preferably in a laser microscopic assay.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a virtual reality simulator (10) for small laboratory animals (100), in particular rodents, which comprises a head clamping mechanism (20) for securing the laboratory animal (100) and virtual reality glasses (40) with two wings (30), each of the wings (30) having a display (34) and a lens system (36) spaced therefrom and connected together by a light barrier cover (32), and the virtual reality glasses (40) are configured to allow the two wings (30) to align with each of the eyes (101) of the laboratory animal (100), respectively. The invention further relates to a method applying such a simulator (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for correcting motion artifacts of in vivo fluorescence measurements using a 3D laser scanning microscope containing two pairs of orthogonally arranged acousto-optic deflectors, the method comprising: selecting a region of interest, selecting a plurality of guiding points along the region of interest, extending the guiding points to objects selected from scanning lines and/or surface elements and/or volume elements which, together, substantially cover the region of interest, repeatedly scanning the objects by generating continuous drifts to cover the objects, projecting the obtained scanning data to frames and obtaining a time series of the frames, correcting motion artifacts by shifting the data of the successive frames with respect to each other so as to maximize fluorescence cross correlation between the data of the frames.

Abstract: A method for scanning along a substantially straight line (3D line) lying at an arbitrary direction in a 3D space with a given speed uses a 3D laser scanning microscope having a first pair of acousto-optic deflectors deflecting a laser beam in the x-z plane (x axis deflectors) and a second pair of acousto-optic deflectors deflecting the laser beam in the y-z plane (y axis deflectors) for focusing the laser beam in 3D. Further, a method for scanning a region of interest uses a 3D laser scanning microscope having acousto-optic deflectors for focusing a laser beam within a 3D space defined by an optical axis (Z) of the microscope and X, Y axes that are perpendicular to the optical axis and to each other.

Abstract: An acousto-optic deflector with a layered structure (10) comprises at least two acousto-optic crystals (12), to each of which at least one electro-acoustic transducer (14) is connected, and the adjacent crystals (12) are separated by an acoustic isolator (16). A method for deflecting an optical beam using the acousto-optic deflector (10), comprises creating a first acoustic wave (15?) in a first acousto-optic crystal (12?) using a first electro-acoustic transducer (14?) connected to the first acousto-optic crystal (12?), and creating a second acoustic wave (15?) in a second acousto-optic crystal (12?) using a second electro-acoustic transducer (14?) connected to the second acousto-optic crystal (12?) and arranged between the first acousto-optic crystal (12?) and the second acousto-optic crystal (12?).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for scanning along a substantially straight line (3D line) lying at an arbitrary direction in a 3D space with a given speed using a 3D laser scanning microscope having a first pair of acousto-optic deflectors deflecting a laser beam in the x-z plane (x axis deflectors) and a second pair of acousto-optic deflectors deflecting the laser beam in the y-z plane (y axis deflectors) for focusing the laser beam in 3D.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for scanning along a continuous scanning trajectory with a scanner system (100) comprising a first pair of acousto-optic deflectors (10) for deflecting a focal spot of an electromagnetic beam generated by a consecutive lens system (200) defining an optical axis (z) in an x-z plane, and a second pair of acousto-optic deflectors (20) for deflecting the focal spot in a y-z plane being substantially perpendicular to the x-z plane, characterized by changing the acoustic frequency sweeps with time continuously in the deflectors (12, 12?) of the first pair of deflectors (10) and in the deflectors (22, 22?) of the second pair of deflectors (20) so as to cause the focal spot to move continuously along the scanning trajectory.

Abstract: The subject of the invention relates to a combined imaging system (10?) that includes a laser scanning microscope (50, 50?), and a measuring device with a lower resolution than the resolution of the laser scanning microscope (50, 50?) and that measures over a larger spatial scale than the spatial scale of the laser scanning microscope (50, 50?). The subject of the invention also relates to an MRI compatible laser scanning microscope which comprises: deflecting means (24?) for deflecting a laser beam (13), objective (28?), adjustable objective arm (38), distance adapter (39) and at least one detector (30?). The essence of the MRI compatible laser scanning microscope is that at least the objective (28?), the adjustable objective arm (38), the distance adapter (39) and the at least one detector (30?) are made from non-magnetisable materials and the deflecting means (24?) is magnetically shielded.

Abstract: The subject of the invention relates to an acousto-optic deflector with a layered structure (10), the essence of which is it comprises at least two acousto-optic crystals (12), to each of which at least one electro-acoustic transducer (14) is connected, and the adjacent crystals (12) are separated by an acoustic isolator (16).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the 3-dimensional measurement of a sample with a measuring system having a 3-dimensional measuring space and comprising a laser scanning microscope, characterised by—providing the measuring system with a 3-dimensional virtual reality device,—creating the 3-dimensional virtual space of the measuring space using the 3-dimensional virtual reality device,—allowing for selecting an operation in the virtual space,—providing real-time unidirectional or bidirectional connection between the measuring space and the virtual space such that an operation selected in the virtual space is performed in the measuring space and data measured in the measuring space is displayed in the virtual space.

Abstract: Use of photochemically cleavable compounds in course of one or multi-photon irradiation experiments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compensator system adapted to compensate for the angular dispersion of electromagnetic beams deflected by at least one acousto-optic deflector of an optical system, wherein the angular dispersion of each deflected beam is dependent on the deflection angle obtained by the deflecting acoustic frequency of the acousto-optic deflector, characterized in that the compensator system comprises: —a first lens group for spatially separating the deflected beams of different deflection angle and angular dispersion by focusing the beams substantially into the focal plane, —a compensator element having a first surface and a second surface, and being arranged such that the first surface of the compensator element lies substantially in the focal plane of the first lens group, and the first and second surfaces of the compensator element have nominal radiuses R1 and R2 that together work as prisms with tilt angles ? and prism opening angles ?p that vary with the distance from the optical axis so as t

Abstract: A laser scanning reflection or fluorescent microscope is provided with focusing-detecting unit having a laser beam focusing objective, an image detector that detects light reflected from the sample or back fluoresced light emitted by the sample, and a drive that simultaneously displaces the objective and the image detector.

Abstract: A laser scanning microscope is provided with a laser beam focusing device, a drive for the focusing device, a laser beam deflector, and a control system that coordinates movement of the focusing device with that of the laser beam deflector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out measurements on at least one region of interest within a sample via a laser scanning microscope having focusing means for focusing a laser beam and having electro-mechano-optic deflector for deflecting the laser beam, the method comprising: providing a scanning trajectory for the at least one region of interest; providing a sequence of measurements and the corresponding scanning trajectories; providing cross-over trajectories between the scanning trajectories of two consecutive measurements; deflecting the laser beam via the electro-mechano-optic means for moving a focus spot of the focused laser beam along a scanning trajectory at an average scanning speed; and deflecting the laser beam via the electro-mechano-optic means for moving the focus spot of the laser beam along a cross-over trajectory at a cross-over speed having a maximum, the maximum of the cross-over speed being higher than the average scanning speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for scanning along a continuous scanning trajectory with a scanner system (100) comprising a first pair of acousto-optic deflectors (10) for deflecting a focal spot of an electromagnetic beam generated by a consecutive lens system (200) defining an optical axis (z) in an x-z plane, and a second pair of acousto-optic deflectors (20) for deflecting the focal spot in a y-z plane being substantially perpendicular to the x-z plane, characterised by changing the acoustic frequency sweeps with time continuously in the deflectors (12, 12?) of the first pair of deflectors (10) and in the deflectors (22, 22?) of the second pair of deflectors (20) so as to cause the focal spot to move continuously along the scanning trajectory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compensator system adapted to compensate for the angular dispersion of electromagnetic beams deflected by at least one acousto-optic deflector of an optical system, wherein the angular dispersion of each deflected beam is dependent on the deflection angle obtained by the deflecting acoustic frequency of the acousto-optic deflector, characterised in that the compensator system comprises: —a first lens group for spatially separating the deflected beams of different deflection angle and angular dispersion by focusing the beams substantially into the focal plane, —a compensator element having a first surface and a second surface, and being arranged such that the first surface of the compensator element lies substantially in the focal plane of the first lens group, and the first and second surfaces of the compensator element have nominal radiuses R1 and R2 that together work as prisms with tilt angles ? and prism opening angles ?p that vary with the distance from the optical axis so as t

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the 3-dimensional measurement of a sample with a measuring system having a 3-dimensional measuring space and comprising a laser scanning microscope, characterised by—providing the measuring system with a 3-dimensional virtual reality device,—creating the 3-dimensional virtual space of the measuring space using the 3-dimensional virtual reality device,—allowing for selecting an operation in the virtual space,—providing real-time unidirectional or bidirectional convection between the measuring space and the virtual space such that an operation selected in the virtual space is performed in the measuring space and data measured in the measuring space is displayed in the virtual space.

Abstract: Use of photochemically cleavable compounds in course of one or multi-photon irradiation experiments.

Abstract: A laser scanning reflection or fluorescent microscope is provided with focusing-detecting unit having a laser beam focusing objective, an image detector that detects light reflected from the sample or back fluoresced light emitted by the sample, and a drive that simultaneously displaces the objective and the image detector.