Adaptive wavefront shaping microscope objective lens

Project Information

Wavelens

Grant agreement ID: 101035014

DOI

10.3030/101035014

Project closed

EC signature date 1 March 2021

Start date 1 May 2021

End date 31 October 2022

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 100 000,00

Coordinated by

IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Wavelens (Adaptive wavefront shaping microscope objective lens)

Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2022-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The electromagnetic spectrum is populated by photons with different energies that can be harnessed for imaging specimens. X-rays were among the first methods used to see deep inside living tissues, and light microscopes are the prototype for specimens on slides, where light diffusion is minimal due to the shallow depth. Advanced optical imaging techniques relying on photons in the visible, ultraviolet or infrared range are breaking the depth barrier, and the EU-funded Wavelens project is planning to adapt them for next-generation microscopy. Implementing dynamic modulation of the optical wavefront, the technology will be integrated into a standard microscope lens to significantly enhance customer access and company market share.

For centuries optical microscopy constitutes one of the most fundamental paradigms in biological and medical imaging, even though significantly challenged by light diffusion in tissue, limiting its applicability to superficial depths. Recent advances, though, have paved the way for exploiting multiple scattering and the increased optical paths to predetermine light propagation, addressing the depth to resolution limits and significantly improve optical imaging capabilities. The currently running DynAMic project in which WAVELENS is linked to aims at revolutionizing microscopic imaging by breaking the depth-to-resolution ratio offering non-invasive, real time, high resolution, multiparametric in vivo imaging, across length scales, deep in biological complex media. Launching from these technology innovations, WAVELENS aims at substantially disrupting the modus operandi of microscopic imaging creating a next generation microscopy capability with enormous benefits for the scientific, industrial and societal community. What this project will achieve is to investigate the commercialization of a completely new line of technology based on the advanced wavefront shaping systems developed within DynAMic up to the proof of concept level and further engineered and integrated in the shell of a standard microscope objective lens. Spearheaded by this proof of concept prototype, WAVELENS will produce user-defined demonstrator prototypes, a complete market analysis, IP valuation and freedom to operate landscape, a detailed business plan and a complete pitching portfolio, providing a concrete foundation for a high-tech spin-off company created during or after the end of the project.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Within the project period, several tracks were followed in parallel and in conjunction with specific goals within the overall timeline and targets of the project. A highly significant effort was dedicated a) to develop Wavelens’ two demonstrator prototypes in transmission and in reflection mode, b) to design and implement a stated preference microscopy market survey that led to the Wavelens’ market valuation and c) to mapping the IP landscape and identifying/establishing the freedom to operate.
The development of the two prototypes led to the extraction of the specific technical characteristics of the innovation and the definition of further needed actions and costs to proceed with product development. The stated market survey extracted the willingness to pay of the light sheet microscopy market end users for the advancements offered by Wavelens. Using WTP as the market price and extracting the innovation incremental costs, we performed the Wavelens valuation in the light sheet microscopy market through different sales scenarios. In order to establish freedom to operate, an EPO patent has been filled, identifying other use case markets of the Wavelens IP.
In particular, Wavelens is aiming toward equipment developers and WaveSPIM towards the broader light sheet market. In the direction of developing the two prototypes, the team has sought funding opportunities exploring both public and private funding, such as business angels and VCs.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Launching from technological developments and breakthroughs achieved during the two preceding projects, the H2020 FETOPEN project Dynamic, Wavelens endeavours towards developing a microscopy system capable of disrupting the modus operandi of microscopic imaging, creating a next-generation microscopy capability with enormous benefits for the scientific, industrial and societal communities. The drive for overcoming the above limitations of microscopic imaging has been initiated and is based on the concept of opaque lenses. An opaque lens in the context of our technological achievements is an optoelectronic device integrating conventional optical elements with a photonic structure that introduces controlled light scattering and an active optical element that manipulates the wavefront (i.e. a spatial light modulator – SLM). Such an opaque lens appropriately takes advantage of multiple scattering and wavefront shaping to exploit the increased optical paths (k-vectors).
The Wavelens project developed a demonstrator device in the form factor of a microscope objective lens incorporating a simple photonic structure made with controlled etching. This demonstrator was implemented in an in-house developed SPIM microscope to produce a state-of-the-art light sheet with unique features and disruptively better performance if compared to similar approaches reported in the literature.
The precise control of the wavefront of the illumination light in a microscope, offered by Wavelens creates a next generation microscopy capability that overcomes limitations of depth and resolution, multispectral detection and ultimately, sample preparation protocols since larger and in vivo specimens can be imaged at high resolution and with a high number of spectral features without chemical processing such as optical clearing.
The impact we anticipate that the project will have is still relevant and complies with Section 2.1 of the DoA, in relation to microscopy and specifically to Light Sheet microscopy, where our proof of concept investigations were performed. We have identified, though, the significant potential impact on other microscopy segments, such as non-linear and structured illumination microscopy, where Wavelens can be integrated, improve characteristics and increase capabilities, as well as simplify use and decrease cost. The design and operation of Wavelens provides also significant benefits to other fields, distant to microscopy, which we have identified during the development and testing of the prototypes. These fields, are: a) Adaptive automotive lighting, b) Authentication and security, c) Laser lithography and d) Fiber optic drivers relevant for i) communication networks and ii) next-generation fiber endoscopes. The unique capabilities of Wavelens in precision light control create a significant impact on any technology or application requiring precise illumination delivery and efficient real time adaptation. Hence, Wavelens presents a multiplicative effect to the European technology sector advancing its leading role in the worldwide technology ecosystem and especially its impact in the general field of photonics.

First Wavelens Images

Wavelens project logo