SBIR-STTR Award

Virtual Pinhole Confocal Microscope
Award last edited on: 6/17/08

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NIH : NCRR
Total Award Amount
$880,000
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
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Principal Investigator
John B Kesterson

Company Information

Vaytek Inc

505 North Third Street Suite 200
Fairfield, IA 52556
   (515) 472-2227
   vaytek@vaytek.com
   www.vaytek.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 02
County: Jefferson

Phase I

Contract Number: 1R43RR014117-01
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase I year
1999
Phase I Amount
$100,000
Scanned confocal microscopes enhance microscopic imaging capabilities, providing improved contrast and image resolution in 3-D, but existing systems have significant technical shortcomings and remain expensive. Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a novel approach-virtual pinhole confocal microscopy--that exploits the technical characteristics of available illumination, detection, and data processing technologies to produce an imager with a number of advantages: reduced cost, faster imaging, improved efficiency and sensitivity, improved reliability and much greater flexibility. Previous work at Los Alamos has demonstrated proof of principle. We propose to develop prototype hardware and software in order to evaluate several implementation paths and to determine technical and commercial feasibility. We will evaluate several approaches for high performance illumination, patterned in time and space. We will design and fabricate a prototype system for high performance data acquisition and processing, designed to support near-realtime confocal imaging. We will extend, further develop, evaluate and validate algorithms used to reconstruct confocal images from a time series of spatially sub-sampled images. These advances will allow the collection of high quality confocal images (in fluorescence, reflectance and transmission modes) with equipment that can inexpensively retrofit to existing microscopes. Planned future extensions to these technologies will significantly enhance capabilities for microscopic imaging in a variety of applications, including confocal endoscopy, and confocal spectral imaging. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION Confocal microscopy is a fundamental enabling technology for a range of applications in biomedical research and clinical practice.

Phase II

Contract Number: 2R44RR014117-02A2
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
2002
(last award dollars: 2003)
Phase II Amount
$780,000

We have developed a novel system for confocal microscopy-the Virtual Pinhole Microscope-that promises a number of advantages over conventional confocal instruments: reduced cost, faster imaging, improved efficiency and sensitivity, improved reliability and much greater flexibility. Phase I work established the feasibility of all component systems, and the functionality of the integrated system. Proposed Phase II work will complete the technical development cycle and result in a powerful and low-priced product. We will continue to develop a novel system for high performance illumination, patterned in time and space. We will refine and fabricate a system for high performance data acquisition and processing, designed to support real-time confocal imaging. We will extend, further develop, evaluate and validate both static and adaptive algorithms used to reconstruct confocal images from a time series of spatially sub-sampled images. We will integrate component systems, to produce two configurations of the instrument. Phase III work will include development of documentation and a beta test program. The confocal systems developed with SBIR support will allow the collection of high quality confocal images in fluorescence, reflectance and transmission modes with equipment that can be inexpensively retrofit to existing microscopes, and will enable important new application