Three-Dimensional Imaging

Since cells and tissues are inherently three-dimensional (3D), 3D imaging techniques are required to study them. 3D light microscopy offers a noninvasive, minimally destructive option for obtaining spatial and volumetric information about the structure and function of cells and tissues. 3D image data acquired with confocal or multiphoton microscopy can be processed to enhance and display images of 3D objects and to compute a variety of measurements on them. Enhancement techniques include 3D linear and nonlinear image filtering, space-variant 3D deconvolution, maximum likelihood image restoration, and image fusion. Optical section image data can be deblurred and displayed in three dimensions. Objects in the 3D image can be isolated and displayed and photometric and spatial measurements extracted from them. These processes greatly improve our ability to understand the structure and function of microscopic specimens.