A multiplexed confocal FLIM microscope with 4-taps time-gated imager

Combined with confocal imaging, Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) can achieve 3-dimensional optical sectional capability with sub-nanosecond lifetime information. As confocal FLIM acquires multi-dimensional data 4D (3D space + time), it is inherently slow. Recent developments in lock-in pixel imagers with time gated pixels show such detectors are capable of collecting as many as 8-time gates in a single pixel cycle. We present a multiplexed confocal FLIM microscope, equipped with a 4-taps time-gated lock-in pixel imager. The multiplexing setup allows the use of the sparse array with sub-nanosecond time-gating to achieve high throughput FLIM acquisition.