Z sharpening for fibre confocal microscopes
US6567585B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 3, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 6, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S385/902
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for image sharpening in confocal microscopy or endoscopy observation, the method comprising: collecting true confocal return light from an observational field of an object; focussing the true confocal return light into a core of a fiber wave-guide; collecting near confocal return light from a volume partially overlapping the observational field; focussing the near confocal return light so as to be transmitted principally in a cladding of the fiber wave-guide; separately detecting the true confocal return light and the near confocal return light to produce a true confocal output signal and a near confocal output signal; and adjusting the true confocal output signal on the basis of the near confocal output signal to substantially eliminate from the true confocal output signal a component due to the near confocal output signal; whereby the effective volume of the observational field is reduced and the resolution is effectively increased.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.