blog.imaging-git.com » technology

The Sound of Light

aszerdi — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:29:42 +0000

Together with his research team, Professor Vasilis Ntziachristos from the Helmholtz Zentrum Munich, Germany and the Technical University Munich, Germany developed a new technology to make light audible. The technique, called multi-spectral opto-acoustic tomography (MSOT), combines light and ultrasound to visualize fluorescent proteins that are seated several centimeters deep into living tissue.
The researchers used a genetically modified adult zebra fish which carried fluorescent pigments in its tissue. They illuminated the fish from multiple angles using flashes of laser light that are absorbed by the fluorescent pigments in the fish. The pigments absorb the light, a process that causes slight local increases of temperature, which in turn result in tiny local volume expansions. This happens very quickly and creates small shock waves. In effect, the short laser pulse gives rise to an ultrasound wave that the researchers pick up with an ultrasound microphone. To analyze the resulting acoustic patterns, a computer is attached. The computer uses specially developed mathematical formulas to evaluate and interpret the specific distortions caused by scales, muscles, bones and internal organs to generate a three-dimensional image. In the future this technology may facilitate the examination of tumors or coronary vessels in humans.
www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/en

Multi-spectral opto-acoustic tomography or MSOT allows the investigation of subcellular processes in live organisms.

State-of-the-Art Geosciences Laboratory Opened

aszerdi — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:26:10 +0000

An advanced science laboratory has officially been launched on June 26, 2009 at the University of Monash, Victoria, Australia by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Kim Carr. The $1 million Earth Sciences teaching laboratory will provide students with the latest in high-tech learning, giving them access to next-generation computer modelling and microscope technology. Head of Geosciences School Professor Ray Cas said the laboratory had the capacity to teach at a microscopic scale via the linking of microscopes with the smart screens. “The laboratory is the most advanced facility of its kind in Australia and the technology it employs is at the cutting-edge internationally,” Professor Cas said.
www.monash.edu.au

Celebrating Innovation in Imaging

aszerdi — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:55:45 +0000

Industry-leading excellence will be on display during the 2009 SGIA Expo (New Orleans, October 7–9), showcasing the entries of SGIA’s award competitions. Imagers are encouraged to submit their best work or nominate their deserving colleagues for the awards. Honored are technological advancements and innovative ideas that move the imaging industry forward, said Michael Robertson, SGIA’s President and CEO.

This year’s competitions include:

Golden Image (including André Schellenberg) (Entry deadline: September 25) — Printer members receive one free entry and can enter almost any kind of imaged product.

Product of the Year (Entry deadline: September 25) — Suppliers can submit leading equipment and supplies that have impacted wide-format digital imaging.

Howard Parmele Award (Entry deadline: July 15) — SGIA’s highest honor recognizes ongoing commitments of a professional who has advanced specialty imaging’s products, services or overall image.

Innovator Award (Entry deadline: September 1) — Industry professionals who have made a strong, lasting impact on the industry. They must work or have worked at a printing/imaging company or a company that supplies materials, equipment or technical information.

ASPT Student Awards Competition (Entry deadline: July 17) — Students in secondary or post-secondary schools holding SGIA membership can enter a variety of screen and digital imaging categories.

All award entries are showcased and evaluated during the 2009 SGIA Expo in the Golden Image Gallery.
www.SGIA.org

SGIA Award Competition

Molecular Light Switches for Higher Resolution

aszerdi — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:02:09 +0000

The “Superresolution” research network, founded by the German Ministry of Education and Sciences, demonstrated a new widefield microscopy technology with resolutions better than 20 nanometers. The method is based on special dyes, which’s fluorescence can be optically and reversibly switched on and off in aqueous solutions. The dyes are bond to cellular structures by using a functional group. By switching the dyes on and off, the fluorescence emission is separated in time until only those dye molecules fluoresce that have enough distance to allow their localization as single molecules. After several thousand switching cycles, a total image is constructed (dSTORM – direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy). Involved in the project were the work groups of Prof. Dr. M. Sauer and Prof. Dr. J. Mattay (University of Bielefeld, Germany ), Prof. Dr. K.-H. Drexhage (University of Siegen, Germany), Prof. Dr. J. Enderlein (University of Goettingen, Germany), and Prof. Dr. S. Hell (Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goettingen, Germany).
www.biophotonik.org

Cytoskeleton of a fixed cell. Left: Fluorescence image at standard conditions. Right: dSTORM image using molecular switches.

New Cloaking Technology

aszerdi — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:29:15 +0000

Researchers of Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, US announced that they have created a new type of invisibility cloak which works for all colors of the visible spectrum. This new technology, based on a tapered optical waveguide, is simpler than previous designs and makes it possible to cloak objects of about 50 microns in diameter – roughly the width of a human hair. “All previous attempts at optical cloaking have involved very complicated nanofabrication of metamaterials containing many elements, which makes it very difficult to cloak large objects,” said Vladimir Shalaev, Purdue University’s Robert and Anne Burnett Professor of Electrical Engineering. “Here, we showed that if a waveguide is tapered properly it acts like a sophisticated nanostructured material.” Previous experiments with metamaterials have been limited to cloaking regions only a few times larger than the wavelengths of visible light. This findings could lead to advances in e.g. cloaking; powerful “hyperlenses” resulting in microscopes 10 times more powerful than today’s; computers and consumer electronics that use light instead of electronic signals to process information; advanced sensors; and more efficient solar collectors. Findings are detailed in a research paper appearing May, 29 in Physical Review Letters.
www.purdue.edu

Photonica Expo 2009

aszerdi — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:10:15 +0000

The international exhibition on photonics and optoelectronics will be back at Milan Fair Centre from Nov. 25-27. After its great success in 2008, with the participation of more than 80 companies from all over the world, the show brings together all the protagonists involved in the creation, control and manipulation of photons and light rays. Important participants include global companies committed to photonics with a focus on innovation, research and specialized industry for the creation of multiple applications. Photonica Expo 2009 confirms its position as an event with international characteristics where the most important worldwide companies involved in this promising technology will be present. The event will take place within HTE-Hi.Tech.Expo the specialized event dedicated to the most promising and advanced technologies.
www.hitechexpo.eu

Emerging Company of the Year Award

aszerdi — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:50:26 +0000

Seno Medical Instruments, a company engaged in the development of a opto-acoustic cancer platform technology, announced it has received the 2009 North American Medical Imaging Emerging Company of the Year Award from Frost & Sullivan. The Award recognizes Seno Medical Instruments pioneering and pre-clinical opto-acoustic imaging technology, its first product that was commercialized. Seno’s management team will be receiving this award March, 18 in San Francisco.
www.senomedical.com

World of Photonics

aszerdi — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:15:36 +0000

In June 2009, two international events for optical technologies in Europe will once again take place in Munich, Germany. From June 15-18, the New Munich Trade Fair Centre will host the exposition “LASER World of PHOTONICS” and from June 14-19 the “World of Photonics Congress” will be held at the International Congress Centre Munich. Both events address to representatives from research, the laser and optoelectronics industries, professionals involved in medicine and technology as well as physicists, chemists, doctors, engineers, system designers, retail companies and service-providers. This year, the trade show and the congress have expanded their offerings for biophotonics and life sciences. The trade show is setting up an exhibition focus area dedicated to the subject of biophotonics. The World of Photonics Congress will present the field of biophotonics at the “Medical Laser Applications” conference. Experts in the field of lasers in medicine, optical diagnostics, high-end endoscopy and minimally invasive surgery will give practically orientated presentations.
www.world-of-photonics.net

Marienplatz in Munich, Germany