Microscope Objective Design Considerations for Spatial Biology and Digital Pathology

As relatively new but incredibly powerful technology, spatial biology investigates and seeks to understand diverse cellular landscapes and their relative location within tissues. Spatial biology builds upon concepts used in digital pathology and whole slide scanning by generating a two- or three-dimensional matrix of tissues and visualizing molecules within a unique contest in applications such as disease progression, identifying biomarkers, pharmaceutical therapeutic development, and monitoring responses to all of these.

The most important specifications of a microscope objective used in this context are numerical aperture, magnification, field number, wavelength range, immersion medium, aberration and correction, and field flatness. Objective lenses best suited for spatial applications feature high NA, broad spectral performance, and immersion mediums. Those best suited for digital applications feature field flatness for image stitching, large FN, and high NA. Design constraints must be taken into consideration, however, including wavefront, the tolerances of objective specifications, and the customer's expectations. Researchers and scientists are developing new objective designs that enhance current capabilities, such as broader wavelength ranges, more adjustability, more unique combinations and increased resolution and wavefront.

About the presenter
Steve Briggs is the US OEM Product Manager at Evident Scientific and has been with the company for seven years. With a background in biomedical engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Briggs has spent over 16 years in the optics, photonics, and microscopy industry pioneering all sorts of optical innovations and solutions. Whether working with small start-up companies, large established multi-national corporations, or his colleagues in Japan, he enjoys identifying challenges and overcoming them with results.