EPIC Online Technology Meeting on Bio-Imaging
Bio-Imaging and Biophotonics is a highly interdisciplinary field that exploits the light interaction with biological organisms, tissues, cells and molecules. Those technologies are critical to understand more in detail the behavior of different living beings and for the development of new and innovative devices for healthcare and life sciences applications . The new techniques require further developments on the equipment used and on their internal components (light sources, sensors, optics…), to achieve accurate results faster, with higher resolution and/or to analyze smaller features. This meeting will discuss the state-of-the at those technologies and address the upcoming demands from their users.
About EPIC: EPIC (European Photonics Industry Consortium) is the world leading industry association that promotes the sustainable development of organizations working in the field of photonics in Europe. EPIC represents over 800 companies and fosters a vibrant photonics ecosystem by maintaining a strong network and acting as a catalyst and facilitator for technological and commercial advancement. EPIC publishes market and technology reports, organizes technical workshops and B2B roundtables, supports EU funding proposals, advocacy and lobbying, education and training activities, standards and roadmaps, pavilions at exhibitions.
EPIC puts its extensive network and experience to the benefit of its members to support companies accelerate their growth and technological advancements, and reaching out to emerging photonics markets.
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#Photonics #biophotonics #BioImaging #FluorescenceImaging #Microscopy #medicaldevices
Transcription:
ICFO presented challenges in two-photon excited microscopy and light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM). LSFM enables fast 3D imaging by illuminating samples with a light sheet and collecting images orthogonally. While it allows volumetric imaging of living organisms such as zebrafish embryos, imaging speed is typically limited to around one volume per second. Techniques such as electrically tunable lenses and phase masks can increase speed without moving the sample, preserving viability. However, challenges remain in achieving higher speeds without losing signal linearity and amplitude, extending depth of field, and managing the resulting large data volumes. Brighter fluorescent markers, faster detectors, and improved data processing are required.
In parallel, ICFO is exploring non-linear microscopy within the EU AMPLITUDE project to detect early-stage bladder cancer. By exploiting the third optical window around 1.7 microns, deeper tissue penetration becomes possible. Non-linear, label-free imaging methods such as THG, SHG, TPEF, and 3PEF are under investigation. Key challenges include the development of compact ultrafast lasers at 1700 nm and compensating for transmission losses in high numerical aperture optics. Success could enable advanced endoscopic imaging solutions.
Chroma Technology, founded in 1991, develops high-performance optical filters covering 200 nm to 3 microns. Their filters are critical for microscopy and clinical applications, offering custom design and scalable production.
iThera Medical specializes in optoacoustic imaging, combining optical contrast with ultrasound detection to achieve high-resolution, deep-tissue imaging in real time. Their systems support clinical and preclinical applications including oncology and vascular disease diagnostics.
INL focuses on advanced functional optical microscopy, including multiphoton FLIM for label-free bioenergetics. Using ultrashort laser pulses, they investigate cellular metabolism and drug interactions. Their work increasingly relies on AI to manage large datasets from 3D disease models.
Additional presentations highlighted innovations from Phaseform in transmissive wavefront modulators, Acktar in black coatings for stray light suppression, HÜBNER Photonics in ultrafast lasers, Iridian in custom spectral filters, Oxxius in CW laser modules, Lambda-X in custom microscopy systems, CoolLED in hyperspectral LED illumination, Chip NanoImaging in chip-based super-resolution nanoscopy, and Scinvivo in OCT catheters for bladder cancer imaging. Together, these contributions illustrate rapid advances and persistent challenges in bioimaging technologies.