Australia has developed a new type of microscope using barcode laser scanning technology
On February 23, Xinhua News Agency reported that researchers at the Australian National University have developed a new type of microscope capable of capturing dynamic images of blood cells and brain neurons inside live animals' blood vessels using barcode laser scanning technology.
Dr. Steve Li, a leading researcher and a biomedical optical engineering expert at the Australian National University, stated that this new microscope can be used to analyze complex medical issues, including blood disorders, cancer, and neurological diseases. This innovative microscope can "fast forward" or "slow down" to capture cell movement in the blood or neuronal activity, making it more flexible and advanced than existing microscopes on the market.
Barcode scanners are commonly used in supermarkets for item classification. The researchers at the Australian National University applied barcode scanner technology to this new microscope. By placing the multi-faceted mirror used in barcode scanners in the laser microscope, the laser is reflected off a variably rotating multi-faceted mirror, enabling rapid scanning of biological samples. This new technology increases the number of facets from the typical 10 facets to 36 facets, while also boosting laser intensity. This results in a doubling of laser beam scanning speed, reducing the time to a fraction of a millisecond.
Dr. Li explained that the innovation in this research lies in the use of advanced electronics and customized software control within the microscope system, allowing for real-time imaging at 800 frames per second.
The relevant research paper has been published in the German journal "Journal of Biophotonics."