AOTF-based system for image cytometry

This paper describes a simple, inexpensive multispectral imaging system for image cytometry applications. The system is based on an acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF), a monochrome CCD camera, and a research-grade fluorescence microscope. The selected TeO2 AOTF has a 10x10 mm 2 entrance aperture and operates within the spectral range of 447–750 nm. The bandpass of the filter varies between 1.4 nm at 450 nm and 5.1 nm at 690 nm. The control software works within the environment of a popular image-acquisition and -processing package Image Pro-Plus, making this system easy to integrate with many existing fluorescence microscopes and cameras. Since image-cytometry applications do not require very high spatial resolution, AOTF-based systems may become an interesting alternative to more complex and expensive LCTF or pushbroom methods.