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Comprehensive biomedical imaging summary

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Comprehensive biomedical imaging summary. Includes both the microscopy part and the macroscopy part.

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Biomedical imaging
MICROSCOPY PART
Resolution = ability to distinguish two points: 1,1mm for human eye
→ microscopes have a better resolution of 200nm

H1 Microscopy basics

1.1 Wave-like properties of light

Light has a wave-like property:
▪ Amplitude
▪ Frequency: number of waves produced each second
▪ Wavelength: distance between two maxima
o A wave is defined by its wavelength → the higher, the
more energy it contains
▪ Speed
▪ Phase
▪ Polarisation

We can only see a fraction of it: 390-770nm

! Light also has a particle-like property

Refraction
= bending of light due to a difference in refractive index of two media

speed of light in vacuum
▪ 𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥, 𝑛 =
speed in medium
o ⇡ n = low speed in medium | ⇣ n = fast speed in medium

▪ If n1 < n2, the angle of refraction will be smaller than the angle of incidence

Snell’s law describes how light bends (refracts) when it passes from one medium into another with a different optical
density: 𝑛1 sin 𝜃1 = 𝑛2 sin 𝜃2
- n = the refractive index of the medium
- 𝜃1 = angle of incidence (incoming ray)
- 𝜃2 = angle of refraction (bent ray)

Dispersion

▪ Each λ diffracts differently (at different angles) which creates dispersion
▪ Bigger λ (red) know less deviation from the original path than smaller λ
(blue)
▪ Bigger λ → less sensitive to refraction than smaller λ

Reflection

When the angle of refraction = angle of incidence → light will reflect


Diffraction
= coherent light spreads out when passing a narrow slit (most of the time when
it’s smaller than the wavelength)

▪ Diffraction changes the way light is perceived and displayed

1

, ▪ ⇣ opening = stronger bending of the light waves
▪ Diffraction generates a characteristic pattern that depends on the amount of slits
▪ The middle part is undeviated light that passes straight through the gap
▪ The light surrounding the middle area are deviated
▪ Important formula for diffraction: d ∙ sin θ = mλ
o d = size of slit
o m = maxima




Interference
= phenomenon that takes place when two waves meet and combine → can either increase or decrease the
amplitude of the new wave
 Constructive interference: when two waves meet and have an increase in amplitude as a result
 Destructive interference: when two waves meet and have a decrease in amplitude as a result

Which interference happens depends on the phase difference of both waves
 If the phase difference between both is nπ (with n an even number), the amplitude of the new, combined
wave increases
 If the phase difference between both is mπ (with m an odd number), the amplitude of the new, combined
wave decrease




! EXAM: terms can be asked in multiple choice

Diffraction is based on interference

▪ More pronounced diffraction pattern when you have multiple slits
▪ Direct, inverse relationship between the position of the maxima and minima with the distance between the
slits → the closer, the more spread out the maxima and minima will be

1.2 Lens theory

Basic convex lens:
▪ Focal point: for every lens at a certain point
▪ Focal distance (f)
▪ Optical axis

There are 3 rules relating to the light path through this perfect convex lens




2

,Rule 1: parallel rays converge at the focal point




Rule 2: rays from the focal point exit in parallel




Rule 3: rays that pass through the centre of the lens, remain unaffected




Calculating the magnification

Four factors for calculation:
1. Focal distance (f)
2. Size of the object (ℎ0 )
3. Position of the object relative to the lens (𝑑0 )
4. Position of the real image relative to the lens (𝑑𝑖 )

Lens maker equation

 f < 0: image is left of the lens
 f > 0: image is right of the lens

Magnification

 M < 0: object is inverted
 M > 0: object is not inverted

d0 = f

Infinity → to focuse the image we need an additional lens → much used in
microscopy so that we can put something in between the two lenses so we can
intervene

! EXAM: need to be able to do the exercises




3

, 1.3 Optical train of compound microscope

Different parts of a microscope




Upright microscope Inverted microscope

The compound microscope is a two-lens magnifier


Light from object B goes through the
objective and creates a magnified, inverted
image B’ (f < do < 2f)
Light from the inverted image B’ goes
through the eyepiece and creates an
inverted virtual image behind the object



Eyepiece: 2nd lens that creates a focused and magnified image on the same
side as the ‘object’ (i.e. the image created by the 1st lens)


Objective: creates a real inverted image of the object that lies on the other
side of the lens

Condenser: focuses the incoming light rays in the focal point


Lightsource: emits the light rays used in the image creation


Concept of conjugated planes

Two planes are said to be conjugate when an object at one plane is sharply imaged onto the other plane by the
optical system → in other words, whatever structure exists in one conjugate plane will also appear in focus at its
partner plane

Image forming path

▪ The object plane (specimen) is conjugated with the intermediate image plane and finally with the retina of the
eye
▪ Similarly, the field stop diaphragm is conjugated with the fixed eyepiece diaphragm and the retina

This ensures that the specimen and the field of view are clearly imaged together

Illuminating path

4

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