The successful investigation of photosensitive and dynamic biological events, such as those in a proliferating tissue or a dividing cell, requires non-intervening high-speed imaging techniques. Electrically tunable lenses (ETLs) are liquid lenses possessing shape-changing capabilities that enable rapid axial shifts of the focal plane, in turn achieving acquisition speeds within the millisecond regime. These human-eye-inspired liquid lenses can enable fast focusing and have been applied in a variety of cell biology studies. Here, we review the history, opportunities and challenges underpinning the use of cost-effective high-speed ETLs. Although other, more expensive solutions for three-dimensional imaging in the millisecond regime are available, ETLs continue to be a powerful, yet inexpensive, contender for live-cell microscopy.

中文翻译：

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电可调镜头 - 消除高速 3D 实时成像过程中的机械轴向运动。

成功研究光敏和动态生物事件，例如增殖组织或分裂细胞中的事件，需要无干预的高速成像技术。电可调透镜 (ETL) 是液体透镜，具有变形能力，可实现焦平面的快速轴向位移，进而实现毫秒级的采集速度。这些受人眼启发的液体镜片可以实现快速聚焦，并已应用于各种细胞生物学研究。在这里，我们回顾了支持使用具有成本效益的高速 ETL 的历史、机遇和挑战。尽管可以使用其他更昂贵的毫秒级三维成像解决方案，但 ETL 仍然是活细胞显微镜的强大而廉价的竞争者。