2-D fluorescence lifetime imaging using a 10-kHz/150-ps gated image intensifier

Summary form only given. Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) is a promising technique to provide noninvasive functional/diagnostic imaging in biological tissue because it does not require quantitative intensity measurements/wavelength ratiometric probes and can exploit the sensitivity of fluorescence lifetime to the environmental changes in ion (e.g. Ca/sup 2+/) concentration, pH, etc. To date, however, we are aware of no commercially available FLIM systems. We report a FLIM system based on a time-gated image intensifier which offers a temporal system response of 150 ps (potentially 80 ps) and a spatial resolution of 30 /spl mu/m. This could incorporate all-solid-state diode-pumped ultrafast laser technology, yielding a portable and relatively inexpensive instrument.