Fiber-coupled, angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning microscopes for performing reflective and two-photon fluorescence imaging
US6369928B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B21/0032
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention provides an angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning microscope comprising a fiber-coupled, angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning head and a vertical scanning unit. The angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning head is configured such that two illumination beams intersect optimally at an angle &thgr; within an object and the scanning is achieved by pivoting the illumination beams and their corresponding observation beams using a single scanning element, thereby producing an arc-line scan. The vertical scanning unit causes the angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning head to move towards or away from the object, thereby yielding a vertical cross-section scan of the object. The angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning microscope have advantages of enhanced resolution, faster scanning, higher sensitivity and larger dynamic range of detection, a larger field of view and a longer working distance, and a compact and integrated construction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.