Miniature Structured Illumination Microscope for in vivo 3D Imaging of Brain Structures with Optical Sectioning

We present a high-resolution miniature, light-weight fluorescence microscope with electrowetting lens and onboard CMOS for high resolution volumetric imaging and structured illumination for rejection of out-of-focus and scattered light. The miniature microscope (SIMscope3D) delivers structured light using a coherent fiber bundle to obtain optical sectioning with an axial resolution of 18 m. Volumetric imaging of eGFP labeled cells in fixed mouse brain tissue at depths up to 220 m is demonstrated. The functionality of SIMscope3D to provide background free 3D imaging is shown by recording time series of microglia dynamics in awake mice at depths up to 120 m in the brain.