Confocal imaging system

Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system

Patent

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

350507, 350 66, G02B 2106, G02B 2610, H04N 104

Patent

active

050327208

ABSTRACT:
A confocal scanning microscope operates to produce a small (preferably diffraction limited) spot on a sample, scan the spot over the sample in a raster pattern, and form an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of light emanating from the region of the spot. The electrical signal is communicated to a computer which produces a visual display on a monitor. The optical train between the source (or detector) and the sample comprises first and second scanning elements, each operable to scan the beam in a different direction, an afocal assembly located between the two scanning elements so as to transfer the beam from the first scanning element to the second scanning element, and standard microscope components including an objective. The light emanating from the sample encounters the objective, the scanning elements, and the afocal assembly prior to reaching the detector. An aperture is disposed in front of the detector and blocks any light that emanated from points spatially displaced from the beam spot. The use of an afocal assembly in the optical train thus allows the elimination of pinhole spatial filters from the design.

REFERENCES:
patent: 1573401 (1926-02-01), Heine
patent: 2004807 (1985-06-01), Fassin
patent: 2290874 (1942-07-01), Graff
patent: 2651969 (1953-09-01), Thor
patent: 3013467 (1961-12-01), Minsky
patent: 3460880 (1969-08-01), Henderson
patent: 3502415 (1970-03-01), Hock
patent: 3517980 (1970-06-01), Petran et al.
patent: 3721170 (1973-03-01), Johnson
patent: 3768910 (1973-10-01), Zanoni
patent: 3926500 (1975-12-01), Frosch et al.
patent: 4241257 (1980-12-01), Koester
patent: 4251129 (1981-02-01), Suzki et al.
patent: 4284897 (1981-08-01), Sawamura et al.
patent: 4373774 (1983-02-01), Dubroeucq et al.
patent: 4478482 (1984-10-01), Koester
patent: 4631581 (1986-12-01), Carlsson
patent: 4714960 (1987-12-01), Laakinann
patent: 4893024 (1990-07-01), Koashi et al.
V. Wilke, "Optical Scanning . . .", Scanning, vol. 7, 2 (1985), pp. 88-96.
D. K. Hamilton et al., "Three-Dimensional . . .", Appl. Phy., B27, No. 4 (1982), pp. 211-213.
T. Wilson, "Scanning Optical . . .", Scanning, vol. 7, 2 (1985), pp. 79-87.
G. J. Barkenhoff et al., "Confocal Scanning . . .", J. Microsc., vol. 117, pt. 2, Nov. 1979, pp. 219-232.
David A. Agard and John W. Sedat, "Three-Dimensional Architecture of a Polytene Nucleus", Nature, vol. 302, Apr. 21, 1983, pp. 676-681.
Roger Y. Tsien and Martin Poenie, "Fluorescence Ratio Imaging: a New Window into Intracellular Ionic Signaling", TIBS 11, Nov. 1986, pp. 450-455.
R. W. Wijnaendts van Resandt et al., "Optical Fluorescence Microscopy in Three Dimensions: Microtomoscopy", Journal of Microscopy, vol. 138, Apr. 1985, pp. 29-34.
M. Petran, et al., "The Tandem Scanning Reflected Light Microscope; Part 1--the Principle, and Its Design", 3 Proceedings RMS, vol. 20, May 1985, pp. 125-129.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Confocal imaging system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Confocal imaging system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Confocal imaging system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-132950

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.