Abstract

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) is a promising technique to provide nonin-vasive functional/diagnostic imaging in biological tissue [e.g. Refs. 1-3] because it does not require quantitative intensity measurements/wavelength ratiometric probes and can exploit the sensitivity of fluorescence lifetime to the environmental changes in ion (e.g. Ca²⁺) concentration, pH, etc. To date, however, we are aware of no commercially available FLIM systems. We report a FLIM system based on a time-gated image intensifier, which offers a temporal system response of 150 ps (potentially 80 ps) and a spatial resolution of 30 µm. This could incorporate all-solid-state diode-pumped ultrafast laser technology [e.g. Ref. 4], yielding a portable and relatively inexpensive instrument.

© 1996 Optical Society of America