MEM-FLIM: all-solid-state camera for fluorescence lifetime imaging

We have built an all-solid-state camera which is directly modulated at the pixel level for frequency domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) measurement. This novel camera eliminates the need for an image intensifier through the use of an application-specific CCD design, which is being used in a frequency domain FLIM system. The first stage of evaluation for the camera has been carried out. Camera characteristics such as noise distribution, dark current influence, camera gain, sampling density, sensitivity, linearity of photometric response, and contrast modulation transfer function have been studied through experiments. We are able to do lifetime measurement using MEM-FLIM cameras for various objects, e.g. fluorescence plastic test slides, fluorescein solution, fixed GFP cells, and GFP - Actin stained live cells.