Abstract

Fluorescence lifetime measurements permit both detection of specific fluorophores and quantitative monitoring of their local environment for biomedical imaging and other applications. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) can provide non- invasive functional/diagnostic imaging by exploiting the sensitivity of fluorescence lifetime to the local environment. This paper reviews our development of a 2-D FLIM time domain instrument based on ultrafast solid-state laser technology that is potentially portable and inexpensive. We have applied this 2-D FLIM system to animal tissue in vitro using autofluorescence to obtain strong contrast between different types and states of tissue. We also report first results of a whole field 3-D FLIM microscope.

© 2000 Optical Society of America