Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Microscope
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-09
2001-01-23
Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Microscope
C359S385000, C385S031000, C385S037000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178041
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the coupling in of radiation from a short-pulse laser into an optical beam path of a confocal microscope, preferably in the optical arrangement of a laser scanning microscope.
b) Description of the Related Art
The use of short-pulse lasers in two-photon laser microscopy is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,613. The coupling of light from a laser light source into a confocal scanning beam path via light-conducting fibers is known, per se, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,053.
Generally, short pulses undergo a lengthening of their pulse duration when passing through dispersive media due to the phenomenon of group velocity dispersion (GVD). In addition, nonlinear optical phenomena such as self-pulse modulation, Brillouin scattering, Raman scattering, etc. which affect the spectral composition of short pulses can have practical relevance due to the high pulse-crest outputs and intensities which go along with short pulses.
It is suggested in “Handbook of biological confocal microscopy”, pages 447, 448, to compensate for the GVD in optical glass by means of prism arrangements or grating arrangements. However, it is questionable whether this brings about any improvement in view of the complex adjustment problems and wasted energy.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is an advantageous coupling of short-pulse lasers into the confocal beam path, e.g., in two-photon microscopy.
The invention is directed in particular and in an advantageous manner to the coupling in of short-pulse lasers (picoseconds to femtoseconds pulse durations) in a laser scanning microscope by means of light-conducting fibers.
The invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the schematic drawings.
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Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
Nguyen Thong
Smith LLP Reed
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