Confocal microscope and endoscope
US5659642A · kind A · utility
34Cited by
5References
10Claims
0Family size
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 19, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B23/26
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A confocal microscope including a light source; an optical fiber bundle defining a plurality of optical channels for receiving light from the light source and for transmitting the light to an object and for allowing light to return from the object through the optical fiber bundle; a switch for selectively switching selected fibers in the optical fiber bundle so as to allow light to selectively be transmitted and returned through individual optical channels until an image of the object is produced; and a detector for receiving returned light from the optical fiber bundle to enable the image of the object to be produced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.