MKR Family

Precision Optical Path Switching for Multimodal Raman-Fluorescence Microscopy

The Challenge: A customer needed to perform single-cell metabolomics by identifying specific bacterial cells via widefield fluorescence imaging and subsequently analyzing those same cells using Raman spectroscopy. Because typical bacterial cells are only 1–10 μm in size, any mechanical deviation during the switch between fluorescence imaging and Raman spectroscopy would cause the Raman laser to miss the target identified in the fluorescence view. This customization allows the researcher to identify a target cell in fluorescence mode and trigger a Raman acquisition with a single software command. The automated switch occurs in under 350 ms, with the high precision of the kinematic mount ensuring the cell remains perfectly centered. This eliminates the need for manual recalibration between modes, allowing for much higher throughput.