Custom-made antireflective (AR)-coated optical components from Knight Optical have played a vital role in enabling SMi Systems’ groundbreaking super-resolution imaging system. Delivering 25% higher transmission, the system can process over 20,000 individual tests in under 10 minutes.
Knight Optical – a leading global supplier of high-precision optical components for science and technology applications – has provided bespoke prisms and lenses to SMi Systems for its high-throughput, widefield imaging platform.
Currently deployed in cutting-edge research – including cancer and COVID-19 studies – and used by a top-20 pharmaceutical company for quality control screening trials, SMi’s advanced system can simultaneously detect over 200 molecular targets within a sample at single-molecule resolution.
Thanks to automated imaging and analysis, the platform can handle up to 96 samples in under 10 minutes – equating to more than 20,000 separate tests at a rate of under 30 milliseconds each. By accelerating throughput, SMi’s technology shortens project timelines and reduces the high costs typically associated with drug development.
When working at this single-molecule resolution, even the smallest flaw or artefact in optical components can present significant challenges. That’s why SMi opted for a custom configuration, which includes compact lens arrangements and made-to-order optics, rigorously inspected for surface imperfections.
Knight Optical supplied high-specification components tailored to these complex requirements. The custom prisms and lenses were laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) tested and antireflective (AR) coated to withstand laser intensity while maximising transmission.
By moving away from off-the-shelf optics, SMi Systems has virtually eliminated aberrations, reduced transmission loss and achieved the same output with lower laser input. This improvement not only enhances reliability and performance but also extends the lifespan of the laser head – a critical and costly component.
Thanks to custom coatings and optimised tolerances, SMi’s system now offers 25% higher transmission. The improved design has also enabled the team to develop a more compact instrument – an important consideration for today’s lab environments.
Speaking about the project, Connor Anderson, UK Sales Supervisor at Knight Optical, said: “Stephen and the team at SMi are an absolute pleasure to work with. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed partnering with them throughout the whole process, from prototype to development. It’s exciting to see our optics contribute to such a groundbreaking diagnostic tool.”
Stephen Reeder, COO at SMi Systems, added: “Right from the start of the project, Knight Optical have worked closely with us on the design and fulfilment of our custom optics. They are responsive and engaged, seeking to understand our technical and commercial objectives. They’ve proposed sensible alternatives to help us achieve our goals and delivered on time and with flawless quality.”
By engaging early with Knight Optical, SMi Systems was able to revisit and refine previously challenging designs, with some improvements already incorporated into current systems and others influencing future developments.
