Flat-field Automated Ultraviolet Exploration Microscope

Leiden Measurement Technolgoy, LLC (LMT) proposes to design and construct the Flat-field Automated UltraViolet Exploration (FAUVE) microscope, a high-resolution, compact, fully-automated epifluorescence microscope operating through the DUV-VIS with sub-micron, high-NA, and a flat field throughout the DUV-VIS. The core of FAUVE is a novel DUV-VIS objective, capable of producing sharp images at high magnification with very little chromatic aberration using only materials that are radiation-hard (exceeding 300 krad). Additionally, FAUVE will feature a new microfluidic cartridge platform which will enable the rapid mounting of samples for microscopic viewing. An automated microfluidic subsystem will autonomously filter samples into the disposable cartridges and treat them with user-defined reagents which could include structural stains/dyes or even functionalized suspension array particles. An entirely custom, miniaturized microscope system will be developed and occupy volume of less than 2,000 cc, while still enabling sub-micron imaging throughout the DUV-VIS in up to five different excitation wavelengths. Leiden Measurement Technology, LLC (LMT) proposes to design and construct the Flat-field Automated UltraViolet Exploration (FAUVE) microscope, a high-resolution, compact, fully-automated epifluorescence microscope operating through the DUV-VIS with sub-micron, high-NA (>0.5), and a flat field throughout the DUV-VIS (250-600nm).  The core of FAUVE is a novel DUV-VIS objective, capable of producing sharp images at high magnification with very little chromatic aberration using only materials that are radiation-hard (exceeding 300 krad).  Currently, no compact microscope objectives exist that offer a flat field of view throughout the DUV-VIS. For applications requiring DUV excitation, this effectively limits their field of view, requiring the z-stacking of many images (15-25 typically) to create a single in-focus image. At these wavelengths, this leads to photobleaching of the sample while also increasing acquisition time, required computational power, and memory which have significant impacts on the SWaP of electronics systems operating in high-radiation environments such as Europa. The technical objectives of this Phase I SBIR project are: 1) Manufacture the flat-field, high-resolution DUV-VIS infinite-conjugate catadioptric microscope objective that was designed in Phase I. 2) Design and manufacture a compact DUV-VIS microscope around the custom objective to provide a high-resolution fluorescence microscope with up to four excitation wavelengths, an automated dichroic filter slide with three positions, a five-position filter wheel, and a folding optics chamber to create a highly-capable compact microscope. 3) Design and manufacture an automated microfluidic sample preparation system that uses disposable cartridges to filter samples to a sub-micron level and treats them with stains and/or other reagents. The disposable cartridges are comprised of silicon nitride microsieves that are compatible with DUV fluorescence microscopy. 4) Implement automated software routines to acquire and analyze images using xy-translation, z-stacking, and spectral deconvolution routines. 5) Deliver a final report and the prototype FAUVE instrument to NASA.

The rugged, miniaturized design of FAUVE will make it suitable for mission deployments on Ocean Worlds where it will enable improved life-detection and mineralogy studies. It could also be deployed on rocky bodies to study regolith or soil samples or even used in conjunction with functionalized microspheres for chemical sensing. FAUVE builds on ongoing NASA-funded projects to develop DUV microscopes and its core technologies can easily be implemented into those instruments to augment their performance. FAUVE has many non-government applications. DUV-VIS fluorescence and transmission microscopy is a very useful tool for life science and medical research, particularly in the fields of histology and cell biology. It will also be highly useful for chemical-quantification of liquid samples by using functionalized spectrally-encoded microspheres in a suspension array and for surface inspections.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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