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In this study, microneedle-integrated light sheet microscopy (LSM) was developed for trapping and continuously imaging embryos of Caenorhabditis elegans with subcellular resolution. To reduce aberrations when the light sheet was propagated into the device, a microneedle was fabricated using a transparent, water refractive index-matched polymer. It was proven that when the light sheet emerged from the water-immersed objective and penetrated through the microneedle with a circular surface, even with a non-perpendicular incident angle, fewer aberrations were found. An embryo was injected into and trapped at the tip of the microneedle, which was positioned at the interrogation window of the LSM apparatus with the image plane perpendicular to the light sheet, and this setup was used to sequentially acquire embryo images. By applying the light sheet, higher-resolution, higher-contrast images were obtained. The system also showed low photobleaching and low phototoxicity to embryos of C. elegans. Furthermore, three-dimensional embryo images with a whole field of view of the microneedle could be achieved by stitching together images and reconstructing sequential two-dimensional embryo images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Devising an efficient method for distributing high-radiance light-emitting diode emissions onto target surfaces is a continuing challenge. Most current design methods are mathematically complex and require intricate optimizations. In this article, a simple and highly accurate geometric optics analysis is described for creating a free-form total internal reflection collimator lens and a Fresnel exit lens, which can be fabricated easily for producing a specific intensity distribution. A powerful application is the ability to create various high-efficiency and uniform illumination patterns from a standard widely used MR16 light bulb by simply attaching a Fresnel exit lens onto the face of the bulb. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]