Characterisation of new gated optical image intensifiers for fluorescence lifetime imaging.

We report the characterisation of gated optical image intensifiers for fluorescence lifetime imaging, evaluating the performance of several different prototypes that culminate in a new design that provides improved spatial resolution conferred by the addition of a magnetic field to reduce the lateral spread of photoelectrons on their path between the photocathode and microchannel plate, and higher signal to noise ratio conferred by longer time gates. We also present a methodology to compare these systems and their capabilities, including the quantitative readouts of Förster resonant energy transfer.

High-speed wide-field time-gated endoscopic fluorescence-lifetime imaging.

We report the development of a high-speed wide-field fluorescence-lifetime imaging (FLIM) system that provides fluorescence-lifetime images at rates of as many as 29 frames/s. A FLIM multiwell plate reader and a potentially portable FLIM endoscopic system operating at 355-nm excitation have been demonstrated.