Confocal imaging capacity on a widefield microscope using a spatial light modulator

Confocal microscopes can reject out-of-focus and scattered light; however, widefield are far more common in biological laboratories due to their accessibility lower cost. We report confocal imaging capacity on a microscope by adding spatial light modulator (SLM) utilizing custom illumination acquisition methods. discuss our strategy compare several procedures for postprocessing the acquired image data. assessed performance of this system rejecting comparing images taken at 1.4 NA using microscope, SLM-enhanced setup, commercial microscope. The optical sectioning capability, thin fluorescent film, was 0.85 ± 0.04 ?m setup 0.68 while exhibited no capability. demonstrate same set neurons C . elegans widefield, SLM, microscopes. SLM enhancement greatly reduces background from cell body, allowing visualization dim fibers nearby. Our identified 96% neuronal seen only 50% fibers. add-on represents very simple (2-component) inexpensive (<$600) approach enable optically section thick samples.