Method and device for selectively targeting cells within a three-dimensional specimen

1. An apparatus for electromagnetically affecting a particle of interest in a specimen, comprising:

(a) a stage capable of supporting the specimen;

(b) a detector comprising at least one camera, wherein the detector is capable of resolving a particle of interest within the specimen;

(c) a means for locating the particle of interest in three dimensions;

(d) a means for focusing electromagnetic radiation to a focal volume within the specimen; and

(e) a means for adjusting the relative positions of the stage and electromagnetic radiation focusing means, thereby positioning the particle of interest within the focal volume.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detector is capable of obtaining a plurality of non-identical two-dimensional images, wherein a particle of interest is discernable in at least one of the two-dimensional images.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises a plurality of cameras capable of imaging the specimen from different directions of view.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the different directions of view are separated by an angle less than 45 degrees.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises a charge-coupled device camera.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for locating the particle comprises a device for processing more than one two-dimensional representations to produce a three-dimensional representation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting means comprises an automated positioning device functionally connected to the electromagnetic radiation focusing means.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting means comprises an automated positioning device functionally connected to the stage.

9. A method for electromagnetically affecting a particle of interest in a specimen, comprising:

(a) storing a plurality of two-dimensional sectional representations in a computer memory, wherein each representation corresponds to one of the focal planar regions, wherein a particle of interest can be discerned in at least one of the two-dimensional sectional representations;

(b) producing a three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the specimen from the plurality of two-dimensional sectional representations;

(c) locating the particle of interest in the specimen based on the three-dimensional representation of at least a portion of the specimen; and

(d) focusing electromagnetic radiation to a focal volume, the focal volume intersecting a portion of the specimen containing the particle of interest.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the specimen is a multilayer of particles.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the specimen is a biological specimen.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the particle is a cell.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the focusing of electromagnetic radiation results in death, optoinjection, alteration of gene expression, fluorescence, or uncaging of an ion.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is produced by at least one laser.

15. A method for selectively targeting specific particles in a specimen, comprising:

focusing electromagnetic radiation to a focal volume with a specimen, the focal volume intersecting a portion of the specimen containing a particle of interest, wherein the radiation within the focal volume substantially affects only the portion of the specimen within the focal volume, the portion of the specimen within the focal volume being surrounded by an envelope of substantially unaffected specimen.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the specimen is a biological specimen.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the affected portion experiences death, optoinjection, alteration of gene expression, fluorescence, or uncaging of an ion.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein at least 10 separate portions of the specimen containing a located particle are electromagnetically affected per minute.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein at least 500,000 separate portions of the specimen containing a located particle are electromagnetically affected per minute.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is produced by at least one laser.