Prairie Technologies

Prairie Technologies Inc. has developed a microscope for biological applications that has improved the state-of-the art in near-field microscopy. The Prairie instrument combines a near-field illumination, positioning source (an optical fiber) with a confocal detection pathway, achieving fluorescence imaging resolution as high as 20nm.

The confocal microscope enables the user to obtain fluorescence images of biological samples (cells, for example) with a resolution of approximately 200nm.

Once a specific area of interest is selected on the sample, that area is scanned in a "sewing-machine" fashion with the optical fiber (in each XY position the fiber is scanned in the z-direction until it makes contact with the sample). The fiber illuminates the sample through its tiny aperture (20-50nm wide). The sample fluoresces as the fiber moves through the z-axis. Data are collected with a photomultiplier detector placed in the confocal pathway. The near field fluorescence part of the signal is extracted and it is this information that provides high-resolution (20-30nm) fluorescence imaging. Accurate positioning and scanning of the fiber is achieved with a uniquely designed nPoint 3-axis nanopositioner.