Confocal imaging system for visible and ultraviolet light
AssigneeMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
InventorsAllison C. Bliton, David E. Clapham, James D. Lechleiter
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Abstract
A scanning confocal microscope (50) capable of providing ultraviolet (UV) excitation. The optical train substantially corrects scanning and focusing errors over the wavelength range that includes UV and visible wavelengths. In a particular embodiment, the lenses (27, 30') in the common path portion of the optical train are corrected for chromatically induced scanning errors while extra lenses (60, 65) are provided in the forward UV path to correct for focusing errors due to longitudinal chromatic (visible/UV) aberration.
Claims18
A scanning confocal microscope comprising:
- UV source means for providing a UV beam;
- a visible light detector
- means for limiting the effective size of said detector;
- means for directing said UV beams along a forward path from said UV source means to a sample region, said forward path including first and second segments;
- means for directing visible light along a return path from said sample region to said visible detector, said return path including said second segment and a third segment;
- focusing means in said second segment for focusing said UV beam to a spot in said sample region;
- and
- scanning means in said second segment for varying the angle at which said UV beam encounters said focusing means so as to vary the location of said spot in said sample region;
- said focusing means being corrected for chromatic scanning errors so that where UV light leaves said scanning means at a given angle and is focused at a given location in said sample region, visible light emanating from the given location encounters said scanning means at the same given angle.
A scanning confocal microscope comprising:
- a UV illumination subsystem for directing a UV beam along a forward path to a sample region;
- a visible light subsystem for detecting visible light travelling along a return path from said sample region;
- said UV illumination subsystem and said visible light subsystems having shared elements including a beam scanner and focusing optics;
- said focusing optics operating to focus said UV beam to a spot in said sample region and to collect visible light emanating from said spot;
- said beam scanner operating to vary the location of said spot in said sample region;
- said focusing optics being corrected for chromatic scanning errors so that where UV light leaves said bean scanner at a given angle and is focused at a given location in said sample region, visible light emanating from the given location encounters said beam scanner at substantially the same given angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.