US20070035822A1 - Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope - Google Patents
Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070035822A1 US20070035822A1 US11/580,065 US58006506A US2007035822A1 US 20070035822 A1 US20070035822 A1 US 20070035822A1 US 58006506 A US58006506 A US 58006506A US 2007035822 A1 US2007035822 A1 US 2007035822A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- light
- optical system
- optical component
- optical
- laser
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/02—Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
- G02B6/02295—Microstructured optical fibre
- G02B6/02314—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes
- G02B6/02342—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes characterised by cladding features, i.e. light confining region
- G02B6/02376—Longitudinal variation along fibre axis direction, e.g. tapered holes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
- B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- B82Y20/00—Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/0004—Microscopes specially adapted for specific applications
- G02B21/002—Scanning microscopes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/0004—Microscopes specially adapted for specific applications
- G02B21/002—Scanning microscopes
- G02B21/0024—Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/0004—Microscopes specially adapted for specific applications
- G02B21/002—Scanning microscopes
- G02B21/0024—Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders
- G02B21/0032—Optical details of illumination, e.g. light-sources, pinholes, beam splitters, slits, fibers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/0004—Microscopes specially adapted for specific applications
- G02B21/002—Scanning microscopes
- G02B21/0024—Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders
- G02B21/0052—Optical details of the image generation
- G02B21/0056—Optical details of the image generation based on optical coherence, e.g. phase-contrast arrangements, interference arrangements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/0004—Microscopes specially adapted for specific applications
- G02B21/002—Scanning microscopes
- G02B21/0024—Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders
- G02B21/0052—Optical details of the image generation
- G02B21/0064—Optical details of the image generation multi-spectral or wavelength-selective arrangements, e.g. wavelength fan-out, chromatic profiling
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/0004—Microscopes specially adapted for specific applications
- G02B21/002—Scanning microscopes
- G02B21/0024—Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders
- G02B21/0052—Optical details of the image generation
- G02B21/0076—Optical details of the image generation arrangements using fluorescence or luminescence
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/0004—Microscopes specially adapted for specific applications
- G02B21/002—Scanning microscopes
- G02B21/0024—Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders
- G02B21/008—Details of detection or image processing, including general computer control
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/06—Means for illuminating specimens
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/10—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
- G02B6/12—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type of the integrated circuit kind
- G02B6/122—Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
- G02B6/1225—Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/255—Splicing of light guides, e.g. by fusion or bonding
- G02B6/2552—Splicing of light guides, e.g. by fusion or bonding reshaping or reforming of light guides for coupling using thermal heating, e.g. tapering, forming of a lens on light guide ends
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/02—Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
- G02B6/02295—Microstructured optical fibre
- G02B6/02314—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes
- G02B6/02342—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes characterised by cladding features, i.e. light confining region
- G02B6/02366—Single ring of structures, e.g. "air clad"
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/02—Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
- G02B6/02295—Microstructured optical fibre
- G02B6/02314—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes
- G02B6/02342—Plurality of longitudinal structures extending along optical fibre axis, e.g. holes characterised by cladding features, i.e. light confining region
- G02B6/02371—Cross section of longitudinal structures is non-circular
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/005—Optical devices external to the laser cavity, specially adapted for lasers, e.g. for homogenisation of the beam or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/14—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range characterised by the material used as the active medium
- H01S3/16—Solid materials
- H01S3/1601—Solid materials characterised by an active (lasing) ion
- H01S3/162—Solid materials characterised by an active (lasing) ion transition metal
- H01S3/1625—Solid materials characterised by an active (lasing) ion transition metal titanium
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/14—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range characterised by the material used as the active medium
- H01S3/16—Solid materials
- H01S3/163—Solid materials characterised by a crystal matrix
- H01S3/1631—Solid materials characterised by a crystal matrix aluminate
- H01S3/1636—Al2O3 (Sapphire)
Definitions
- the invention concerns an arrangement for examining microscope preparations with a scanning microscope
- the invention concerns an arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope that comprises a laser and an optical means which images the light generated by the laser onto a specimen that is to be examined.
- the scanning microscope can also be configured as a confocal microscope.
- the invention furthermore concerns an illumination device for a scanning microscope.
- a specimen is scanned with a light beam.
- Lasers are often used as the light source for this purpose.
- An arrangement having a single laser which emits several laser lines is known, for example, from EP 0 495 930, “Confocal microscope system for multi-color fluorescence.”
- Mixed-gas lasers, in particular ArKr lasers, are usually used at present for this purpose.
- Diode lasers and solid-state lasers are also in use.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,053 entitled “Confocal microscope” discloses a confocal microscope in which light of an external light source is transported with the aid of a glass fiber to the beam path of the microscope and the end of the glass fiber serves as a point light source, so that a mechanical stop is superfluous.
- the emission spectrum of lasers is confined to a narrow wavelength range, so that for simultaneous multiple-line excitation, the light of several lasers must be combined into one illumination beam.
- the gas lasers usually used as multiple-line lasers are very complex and expensive. They moreover require a great deal of maintenance, making them difficult to use continuously in many microscopy applications.
- a scanning microscope comprising: a laser, an optical means for imaging light generated by the laser onto a specimen and an optical component positioned between the laser and the optical means, wherein the light generated by the laser passes through the optical component whereby the optical component spectrally spreads the light passing through.
- a further object of the invention is to create an illumination device for a scanning microscope which provides an illumination encompassing a numerous selectable spectral regions.
- an illumination device comprising a laser which has a light exit opening, an optical component made of photonic band-gap material which is mounted at the light exit opening.
- a confocal scanning microscope comprising: a laser, an optical means for imaging light generated by the laser onto a specimen, a detector for receiving light coming from the specimen, an optical component positioned between the laser and the optical means, wherein the light generated by the laser passes through the optical component, whereby the optical component spectrally spreads the light passing through and an illumination pinhole through which the specimen is illuminated by the light emerging from the optical component.
- a scanning microscope comprising: a pulsed laser, an optical means for imaging light generated by the pulsed laser onto a specimen and a tapered light-guiding fiber positioned between the pulsed laser and the optical means, wherein the light generated by the pulsed laser passes through the tapered light-guiding fiber whereby the tapered light-guiding fiber spectrally spreads the light passing through.
- the optical component in the form of a photonic band-gap material has the advantage that the optically nonlinear construction of the fiber causes a short laser pulse to be spread out, thus creating a spectrally broad, continuous light spectrum.
- a “photonic band-gap material” is a microstructured, transparent material. It is possible, usually by assembling various dielectrics, to impart to the resulting crystal a band structure which is reminiscent of the electron band structure of semiconductors.
- the technology has recently also been implemented in light-guiding fibers.
- the fibers are manufactured by drawing out structured glass tubes.
- the fibers have a particular underlying structure: small capillaries are left open in the fiber direction, spaced approximately 2-3 ⁇ m apart and with a diameter of approx. 1 ⁇ m, and usually filled with air. No capillaries are present in the center of the fiber.
- These kinds of fibers are known as “photon crystal fibers,” “holey fibers,” or “microstructured fibers.”
- Photon crystal fibers can be used to produce a continuous spectral distribution over the entire visible wavelength region. This is done by coupling the light of a short-pulse laser into the fiber. The optically nonlinear construction of the fiber causes the frequency spectrum of the laser to spread out, creating a spectrally broad, continuous spectrum.
- the optical component is a light-guiding fiber with a fiber core, wherein the fiber has a thinning provided on a part of the fiber.
- Light-guiding fibers of that kind are known as “tapered fibers”.
- the light-guiding fiber has an overall length of one meter an the thinning is provided over a length of 30 mm to 90 mm.
- the diameter of the fiber is 150 ⁇ m and diameter of the fiber core is approx. 8 ⁇ m.
- a the thinning the diameter of the fiber is reduced to approx. 2 ⁇ m. Consequently the diameter of the fiber core is the range of a few nanometers.
- a fiber laser of this kind can therefore advantageously be combined with acoustooptical or electrooptical tunable filters (AOTFs), acoustooptical or electrooptical deflectors (AODs), or acoustooptical or electrooptical beam splitters (AOBSs). These can be used not only for wavelength selection but also to block out detected light (our German application DE 199 06 757 A1: “Optical arrangement”).
- AOTFs acoustooptical or electrooptical tunable filters
- AODs acoustooptical or electrooptical deflectors
- AOBSs acoustooptical or electrooptical beam splitters
- the fiber exit end can be used as a point light source, thus making the use of an excitation aperture superfluous.
- the fiber end itself to have a partially reflective coating, so that this partial reflector forms a resonator end mirror.
- FIG. 1 For example, a control loop for light output stabilization, which measures the light output in the beam path of the microscope in parasitic fashion, and maintains a constant specimen illumination light output by, for example, varying the pumping light output or with the aid of an acoustooptical or electrooptical element.
- LCD attenuators could also be used for this purpose.
- a further advantage of the invention is that if the illumination device is already appropriately configured, it supplies several spectral regions for illumination.
- the laser which constitutes the illumination device for a scanning microscope has an optical component attached at the light exit opening.
- the optical component is made of photonic band-gap material.
- the photonic band-gap material can also be configured as a light-guiding fiber.
- FIG. 1 shows an arrangement according to the present invention with a confocal microscope
- FIG. 2 shows an arrangement in which an illumination pinhole has been omitted
- FIG. 3 shows an arrangement with light output stabilization
- FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the optical component
- FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the optical component.
- FIG. 1 shows a confocal microscope that uses an optical component 3 to spread out a laser pulse generated by a pulsed laser 1 .
- Pulsed laser 1 defines a pulsed laser beam 2 that is directed through optical component 3 .
- Optical component 3 is a photonic band-gap material. What emerges from optical component 3 is a spectrally broad-band illuminating light 4 that is imaged by a first optical system 5 onto an illumination pinhole 6 and then strikes a beam splitter 7 . From beam splitter 7 , the spectrally broad-band illuminating light 4 passes to a second optical system 8 which generates a parallel light beam 4 a that strikes a scanning mirror 9 .
- Scanning mirror 9 is followed by several optical systems 10 and 11 which shape light beam 4 a.
- Light beam 4 a passes to an objective 12 , by which it is imaged onto a specimen 13 .
- the light reflected or emitted from the specimen defines an observation beam path 4 b.
- the light of observation beam path 4 b passes once again through second optical system 8 , and is imaged onto a detection pinhole 14 that sits in front of a detector 15 .
- Optical component 3 makes it possible to generate the laser light necessary for the examination of specimen 13 in accordance with the desired spectrum.
- FIG. 2 shows a confocal microscope in which illumination pinhole 6 has been omitted. All elements identical to the elements of FIG. 1 are labeled with the same reference characters.
- an acoustooptical tunable filter (AOTF) 16 which is connected to a corresponding AOTF drive system 17 , is used instead of first optical system 5 . Since optical component 3 can generate a broad-band illuminating light 4 , it is necessary to provide means for wavelength selection and for light output stabilization.
- AOTF acoustooptical tunable filter
- acoustooptical or electrooptical tunable filters can be combined with acoustooptical or electrooptical deflectors (AODs) and acoustooptical or electrooptical beam splitters (AOBSs). These can be used not only for wavelength selection but also to block out detected light.
- AOBSs acoustooptical or electrooptical beam splitters
- beam dump 18 which intercepts the unused spectral portions of the illuminating light in order to prevent unnecessary disturbance of the scanning microscope.
- FIG. 3 A further embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 3 .
- a light-guiding fiber 20 made of the photonic band-gap material is used instead of optical component 3 .
- pulsed laser beam 2 is coupled via an optical system 19 into an entrance end 20 a of light-guiding fiber 20 .
- a spectrally spread laser pulse emerges from exit end 20 b and is coupled out via an optical system 21 .
- spectral filtering is performed before the spectrally spread laser pulse strikes illumination pinhole 6 .
- several color filters 24 are arranged on a turret 23 .
- Turret 23 can be rotated by a motor 22 , so that the corresponding color filters 24 can be introduced into the beam path. Also conceivable is a linear arrangement of color filters 24 , in which case color filters 24 are moved by means of a linear motion into an illumination beam path 50 . After illumination pinhole 6 , illumination beam path 50 is comparable to the beam path of FIG. 1 . As already mentioned in FIG. 1 , beam splitter 7 deflects the light onto scanning mirror 9 . A portion of the light passes through beam splitter 7 and defines a lost beam path 50 a. This portion of the light is lost for observation or measurement purposes.
- a detector 25 which determines the lost light and ascertains therefrom an electronic variable that is conveyed via a line 30 to an electronic control system 26 .
- Electronic control system 26 is connected via a further line 32 to pulsed laser 1 .
- Electronic control system 26 regulates the intensity of pulsed laser 1 , via line 32 , in such a way that a constant light output always strikes specimen 13 .
- a control loop can be provided for light output stabilization, in such way that it measures the light output in the beam path of the microscope in parasitic fashion, and maintains a constant specimen illumination light output by, for example, varying the pumping light output or with the aid of an acoustooptical or electrooptical element.
- LCD attenuators could also be used for this purpose.
- FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the optical component 3 .
- the optical component 3 is a conventional light-guiding fiber 51 , which has a overall diameter of 125 ⁇ m and the fiber core 52 has a diameter of 6 ⁇ m.
- the overall diameter of the light-guiding fiber 51 is reduced 1.8 ⁇ m.
- the diameter of the fiber core 52 is in the range of a few nanometers.
- FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the optical component 3 .
- the optical component 3 is a microstructured optical element. It consists of photonic band gap material, which has a special honeycombed microstructure 54 .
- the honeycombed structure 54 that is shown is particularly suitable for generating broadband light.
- the diameter of the glass inner cannula 55 is approximately 1.9 ⁇ m.
- the inner cannula 55 is surrounded by glass webs 56 .
- the glass webs 56 form honeycombed cavities 57 .
- These micro-optical structure elements together form a second region 58 , which is enclosed by a first region 59 that is designed as a glass cladding.
Abstract
The arrangement for examining microscope preparations with a scanning microscope comprises a laser ( 1 ) and an optical means ( 12 ) which images the light generated by the laser ( 1 ) onto a specimen ( 13 ) that is to be examined. Provided between the laser ( 1 ) and the optical means ( 12 ) is an optical component ( 3, 20 ) that spectrally spreads, with a single pass, the light generated by the laser ( 1 ). The optical component ( 3, 20 ) is made of photonic band-gap material. It is particularly advantageous if the photonic band-gap material is configured as a light-guiding fiber ( 20 ).
Description
- The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/034,888, filed Jan. 14, 2005, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/881,062, filed Jun. 15, 2001, which claims priority of German Patent Application Nos. 100 30 013.8, filed Jun. 17, 2000 and 101 15 509.3, filed Mar. 29, 2001, the entire contents of each application is incorporated herein by reference.
- The invention concerns an arrangement for examining microscope preparations with a scanning microscope, In particular, the invention concerns an arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope that comprises a laser and an optical means which images the light generated by the laser onto a specimen that is to be examined. The scanning microscope can also be configured as a confocal microscope.
- The invention furthermore concerns an illumination device for a scanning microscope.
- In scanning microscopy, a specimen is scanned with a light beam. Lasers are often used as the light source for this purpose. An arrangement having a single laser which emits several laser lines is known, for example, from EP 0 495 930, “Confocal microscope system for multi-color fluorescence.” Mixed-gas lasers, in particular ArKr lasers, are usually used at present for this purpose.
- Diode lasers and solid-state lasers are also in use.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,053 entitled “Confocal microscope” discloses a confocal microscope in which light of an external light source is transported with the aid of a glass fiber to the beam path of the microscope and the end of the glass fiber serves as a point light source, so that a mechanical stop is superfluous.
- The emission spectrum of lasers is confined to a narrow wavelength range, so that for simultaneous multiple-line excitation, the light of several lasers must be combined into one illumination beam.
- The gas lasers usually used as multiple-line lasers are very complex and expensive. They moreover require a great deal of maintenance, making them difficult to use continuously in many microscopy applications.
- It is the object of the invention to create a scanning microscope which makes possible specimen examination with several spectral lines without requiring the use of multiple-line lasers or more than one laser.
- The aforesaid object is achieved by a scanning microscope comprising: a laser, an optical means for imaging light generated by the laser onto a specimen and an optical component positioned between the laser and the optical means, wherein the light generated by the laser passes through the optical component whereby the optical component spectrally spreads the light passing through.
- A further object of the invention is to create an illumination device for a scanning microscope which provides an illumination encompassing a numerous selectable spectral regions.
- The aforesaid object is achieved by an illumination device comprising a laser which has a light exit opening, an optical component made of photonic band-gap material which is mounted at the light exit opening.
- It a further object of the invention to create a confocal scanning microscope which makes possible specimen examination with several spectral lines without requiring the use of multiple-line lasers or more than one laser.
- The aforesaid object is achieved by a confocal scanning microscope comprising: a laser, an optical means for imaging light generated by the laser onto a specimen, a detector for receiving light coming from the specimen, an optical component positioned between the laser and the optical means, wherein the light generated by the laser passes through the optical component, whereby the optical component spectrally spreads the light passing through and an illumination pinhole through which the specimen is illuminated by the light emerging from the optical component.
- It a further object of the invention to create a scanning microscope which makes possible specimen examination with several spectral lines without requiring the use of multiple-line lasers or more than one laser and which is realized in a simple and cost effective way.
- The aforesaid object is achieved by a scanning microscope comprising: a pulsed laser, an optical means for imaging light generated by the pulsed laser onto a specimen and a tapered light-guiding fiber positioned between the pulsed laser and the optical means, wherein the light generated by the pulsed laser passes through the tapered light-guiding fiber whereby the tapered light-guiding fiber spectrally spreads the light passing through.
- The optical component in the form of a photonic band-gap material has the advantage that the optically nonlinear construction of the fiber causes a short laser pulse to be spread out, thus creating a spectrally broad, continuous light spectrum. A “photonic band-gap material” is a microstructured, transparent material. It is possible, usually by assembling various dielectrics, to impart to the resulting crystal a band structure which is reminiscent of the electron band structure of semiconductors.
- The technology has recently also been implemented in light-guiding fibers. The fibers are manufactured by drawing out structured glass tubes. The fibers have a particular underlying structure: small capillaries are left open in the fiber direction, spaced approximately 2-3 μm apart and with a diameter of approx. 1 μm, and usually filled with air. No capillaries are present in the center of the fiber. These kinds of fibers are known as “photon crystal fibers,” “holey fibers,” or “microstructured fibers.”
- Photon crystal fibers can be used to produce a continuous spectral distribution over the entire visible wavelength region. This is done by coupling the light of a short-pulse laser into the fiber. The optically nonlinear construction of the fiber causes the frequency spectrum of the laser to spread out, creating a spectrally broad, continuous spectrum.
- It is an other advantage of the invention to provide an embodiment which is simple an cost effective to realize. The optical component is a light-guiding fiber with a fiber core, wherein the fiber has a thinning provided on a part of the fiber. Light-guiding fibers of that kind are known as “tapered fibers”. Preferable, the light-guiding fiber has an overall length of one meter an the thinning is provided over a length of 30 mm to 90 mm. The diameter of the fiber is 150 □m and diameter of the fiber core is approx. 8 □m. A the thinning the diameter of the fiber is reduced to approx. 2 □m. Consequently the diameter of the fiber core is the range of a few nanometers.
- For use in microscopy, it is important to implement means for wavelength selection and for light output stabilization. A fiber laser of this kind can therefore advantageously be combined with acoustooptical or electrooptical tunable filters (AOTFs), acoustooptical or electrooptical deflectors (AODs), or acoustooptical or electrooptical beam splitters (AOBSs). These can be used not only for wavelength selection but also to block out detected light (our German application DE 199 06 757 A1: “Optical arrangement”).
- In confocal microscopy in particular, the fiber exit end can be used as a point light source, thus making the use of an excitation aperture superfluous. With a configuration of this kind, it would be particularly advantageous for the fiber end itself to have a partially reflective coating, so that this partial reflector forms a resonator end mirror.
- Further embodiments make provision for apparatuses to compensate for light output fluctuations. It is possible, for example, to incorporate a control loop for light output stabilization, which measures the light output in the beam path of the microscope in parasitic fashion, and maintains a constant specimen illumination light output by, for example, varying the pumping light output or with the aid of an acoustooptical or electrooptical element. LCD attenuators could also be used for this purpose.
- A further advantage of the invention is that if the illumination device is already appropriately configured, it supplies several spectral regions for illumination. The laser which constitutes the illumination device for a scanning microscope has an optical component attached at the light exit opening. The optical component is made of photonic band-gap material. The photonic band-gap material can also be configured as a light-guiding fiber.
- The subject matter of the invention is schematically depicted in the drawings and is described below with reference to the Figures, in which:
-
FIG. 1 shows an arrangement according to the present invention with a confocal microscope; -
FIG. 2 shows an arrangement in which an illumination pinhole has been omitted, -
FIG. 3 shows an arrangement with light output stabilization, -
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the optical component and -
FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the optical component. -
FIG. 1 shows a confocal microscope that uses anoptical component 3 to spread out a laser pulse generated by apulsed laser 1.Pulsed laser 1 defines apulsed laser beam 2 that is directed throughoptical component 3.Optical component 3 is a photonic band-gap material. What emerges fromoptical component 3 is a spectrally broad-band illuminating light 4 that is imaged by a firstoptical system 5 onto anillumination pinhole 6 and then strikes a beam splitter 7. From beam splitter 7, the spectrally broad-band illuminating light 4 passes to a secondoptical system 8 which generates a parallel light beam 4 a that strikes ascanning mirror 9.Scanning mirror 9 is followed by severaloptical systems specimen 13. The light reflected or emitted from the specimen defines anobservation beam path 4 b. The light ofobservation beam path 4 b passes once again through secondoptical system 8, and is imaged onto adetection pinhole 14 that sits in front of adetector 15.Optical component 3 makes it possible to generate the laser light necessary for the examination ofspecimen 13 in accordance with the desired spectrum. - The exemplary embodiment depicted in
FIG. 2 shows a confocal microscope in whichillumination pinhole 6 has been omitted. All elements identical to the elements ofFIG. 1 are labeled with the same reference characters. In this exemplary embodiment, an acoustooptical tunable filter (AOTF) 16, which is connected to a correspondingAOTF drive system 17, is used instead of firstoptical system 5. Sinceoptical component 3 can generate a broad-band illuminating light 4, it is necessary to provide means for wavelength selection and for light output stabilization. Advantageously, acoustooptical or electrooptical tunable filters (AOTFs) can be combined with acoustooptical or electrooptical deflectors (AODs) and acoustooptical or electrooptical beam splitters (AOBSs). These can be used not only for wavelength selection but also to block out detected light. Also associated withAOTF 16 is abeam dump 18 which intercepts the unused spectral portions of the illuminating light in order to prevent unnecessary disturbance of the scanning microscope. - A further embodiment of the invention is depicted in
FIG. 3 . Here a light-guidingfiber 20 made of the photonic band-gap material is used instead ofoptical component 3. Frompulsed laser 1,pulsed laser beam 2 is coupled via anoptical system 19 into anentrance end 20 a of light-guidingfiber 20. Since light-guidingfiber 20 is constructed from the photonic band-gap material, a spectrally spread laser pulse emerges fromexit end 20 b and is coupled out via anoptical system 21. Before the spectrally spread laser pulse strikesillumination pinhole 6, spectral filtering is performed. For that purpose,several color filters 24 are arranged on aturret 23.Turret 23 can be rotated by amotor 22, so that thecorresponding color filters 24 can be introduced into the beam path. Also conceivable is a linear arrangement ofcolor filters 24, in whichcase color filters 24 are moved by means of a linear motion into anillumination beam path 50. Afterillumination pinhole 6,illumination beam path 50 is comparable to the beam path ofFIG. 1 . As already mentioned inFIG. 1 , beam splitter 7 deflects the light ontoscanning mirror 9. A portion of the light passes through beam splitter 7 and defines a lostbeam path 50 a. This portion of the light is lost for observation or measurement purposes. For this reason, there is provided in lostbeam path 50 a adetector 25 which determines the lost light and ascertains therefrom an electronic variable that is conveyed via aline 30 to anelectronic control system 26.Electronic control system 26 is connected via afurther line 32 topulsed laser 1.Electronic control system 26 regulates the intensity ofpulsed laser 1, vialine 32, in such a way that a constant light output always strikesspecimen 13. For example, a control loop can be provided for light output stabilization, in such way that it measures the light output in the beam path of the microscope in parasitic fashion, and maintains a constant specimen illumination light output by, for example, varying the pumping light output or with the aid of an acoustooptical or electrooptical element. LCD attenuators could also be used for this purpose. -
FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of theoptical component 3. Theoptical component 3 is a conventional light-guidingfiber 51, which has a overall diameter of 125 □m and thefiber core 52 has a diameter of 6 □m. In the area of a thinning 53, which is approx. 300 mm long, the overall diameter of the light-guidingfiber 51 is reduced 1.8 □m. In this area the diameter of thefiber core 52 is in the range of a few nanometers. -
FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of theoptical component 3. Theoptical component 3 is a microstructured optical element. It consists of photonic band gap material, which has a specialhoneycombed microstructure 54. Thehoneycombed structure 54 that is shown is particularly suitable for generating broadband light. The diameter of the glassinner cannula 55 is approximately 1.9 □m. Theinner cannula 55 is surrounded byglass webs 56. Theglass webs 56 form honeycombedcavities 57. These micro-optical structure elements together form asecond region 58, which is enclosed by afirst region 59 that is designed as a glass cladding. - The present invention was described with reference to particular embodiments. It is self-evident, however, that changes and modifications can be made without leaving the spirit and the scope of the claims.
Claims (27)
1. An optical system comprising:
a laser configured to generate light having a wavelength range;
imaging optics configured to image light generated by the laser onto an image plane; and
an optical component positioned between the laser and the imaging optics,
wherein the light generated by the laser passes through the optical component, and
wherein the optical component is configured to increase said wavelength range of said light to a substantial portion of the entire visible wavelength range.
2. An optical system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the optical component comprises photonic band-gap material.
3. An optical system as defined in claim 2 , wherein the photonic band-gap material is configured as a light-guiding fiber.
4. An optical system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the optical component comprises a tapered light-guiding fiber.
5. An optical system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the laser comprises a pulsed laser.
6. An optical system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an attenuator for attenuating at least a portion of at least one wavelength of the light emerging from the optical component arranged after the optical component.
7. An optical system as defined in claim 6 , wherein the attenuator comprises at least one of a spectrally selective filter, a dichroic filter, an acoustooptical tunable filter (AOTF), an acoustooptical deflector (AOD), and an LCD attenuator.
8. An optical system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a microscope.
9. An optical system comprising:
a laser configured to generate light having a wavelength range;
optics to image light generated by the laser onto an image plane;
an optical component positioned between the laser and the optics, wherein the light generated by the laser passes through the optical component, and wherein the optical component is configured to increase said wavelength range of said light to a substantial portion of the entire visible wavelength range; and
an attenuator for attenuating at least a portion of at least one wavelength of light emerging from the optical component.
10. An optical system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the optical component comprises photonic band-gap material.
11. An optical system as defined in claim 10 , wherein the photonic band-gap material is configured as a light-guiding fiber.
12. An optical system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the optical component comprises a tapered light-guiding fiber.
13. An optical system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the laser comprises a pulsed laser.
14. An optical system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the attenuator is arranged after the optical component.
15. An optical system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the attenuator comprises at least one of a spectrally selective filter, a dichroic filter, an acoustooptical tunable filter (AOTF), an acoustooptical deflector (AOD), and an LCD attenuator.
16. An optical system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the system comprises a microscope.
17. An optical system comprising:
an optical component positioned between a light source and optics, wherein light generated by the light source passes through the optical component, and wherein the optical component is configured to increase a wavelength range of said light to a substantial portion of the entire visible wavelength range; and
an optical element arranged after the optical component to remove at least a portion of at least one wavelength of the light emerging from the optical component.
18. An optical system as defined in claim 17 , wherein the optical component comprises photonic band-gap material.
19. An optical system as defined in claim 18 , wherein the photonic band-gap material is configured as a light-guiding fiber.
20. An optical system as defined in claim 17 , wherein the optical component comprises a tapered light-guiding fiber.
21. An optical system as defined in claim 17 , wherein the light source comprises a pulsed laser.
22. An optical system as defined in claim 17 , wherein the optical element comprises at least one of a spectrally selective filter, a dichroic filter, an acoustooptical tunable filter (AOTF), an acoustooptical deflector (AOD), and an LCD attenuator.
23. An optical system as defined in claim 17 , wherein the system comprises a microscope.
24. An optical system as defined in claim 17 , wherein the optical component comprises a light-guiding fiber.
25. An optical system as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a control loop for light output stabilization.
26. An optical system as defined in claim 9 , further comprising a control loop for light output stabilization.
27. An optical system as defined in claim 17 , further comprising a control loop for light output stabilization.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/580,065 US20070035822A1 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2006-10-13 | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
US12/330,954 US7679822B2 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2008-12-09 | Broadband laser illumination device for a scanning microscope with output stabilization |
Applications Claiming Priority (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE10030013 | 2000-06-17 | ||
DEDE10030013.8 | 2000-06-17 | ||
DEDE10115509.3 | 2001-03-29 | ||
DE10115509A DE10115509A1 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2001-03-29 | Arrangement for examining microscopic specimens with a scanning microscope and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
US09/881,062 US6888674B1 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2001-06-15 | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
US11/034,888 US7123408B2 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2005-01-14 | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
US11/580,065 US20070035822A1 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2006-10-13 | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/034,888 Continuation US7123408B2 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2005-01-14 | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/330,954 Division US7679822B2 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2008-12-09 | Broadband laser illumination device for a scanning microscope with output stabilization |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070035822A1 true US20070035822A1 (en) | 2007-02-15 |
Family
ID=26006134
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/881,062 Expired - Lifetime US6888674B1 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2001-06-15 | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
US11/034,888 Expired - Lifetime US7123408B2 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2005-01-14 | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
US11/580,065 Abandoned US20070035822A1 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2006-10-13 | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
Family Applications Before (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/881,062 Expired - Lifetime US6888674B1 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2001-06-15 | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
US11/034,888 Expired - Lifetime US7123408B2 (en) | 2000-06-17 | 2005-01-14 | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US6888674B1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1164400B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4560243B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE20122783U1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070025662A1 (en) * | 2003-09-05 | 2007-02-01 | Leica Microsystems Cms Gmbh | Light source comprising a plurality of microstructured optical elements |
WO2011042524A1 (en) * | 2009-10-08 | 2011-04-14 | Leica Microsystems Cms Gmbh | Laser system for a microscope and method for operating a laser system for a microscope |
Families Citing this family (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB0224067D0 (en) * | 2002-10-16 | 2002-11-27 | Perkinelmer Uk Ltd | Improvements in and relating to imaging |
JP4583723B2 (en) * | 2003-04-30 | 2010-11-17 | オリンパス株式会社 | Method for discriminating fluorescent reagent dyed sample using laser scanning microscope |
US7215468B2 (en) * | 2003-07-29 | 2007-05-08 | Olympus Corporation | Confocal microscope |
DE102004026931B3 (en) * | 2004-06-01 | 2005-12-22 | Schott Ag | Broadband light source having a broadband spectrum, and a short coherence meter having such a light source |
US7133590B2 (en) * | 2005-03-17 | 2006-11-07 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | IR supercontinuum source |
DE102005059338A1 (en) * | 2005-12-08 | 2007-06-14 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Method and arrangement for the examination of samples |
DE102006039083A1 (en) * | 2006-08-17 | 2008-02-21 | Carl Zeiss Microimaging Gmbh | Tunable lighting source |
DE102007002203A1 (en) | 2007-01-16 | 2008-07-17 | Carl Zeiss Microimaging Gmbh | Lighting device and lighting method |
US20110084217A1 (en) * | 2009-10-13 | 2011-04-14 | Intelligent Imaging Innovations, Inc. | Supercontinuum laser source for full-field confocal microscopy, spim and tirf |
US20110144745A1 (en) * | 2009-12-11 | 2011-06-16 | Martin Michael Mcculloch | Ophthalmic endoillumination system |
US8840541B2 (en) | 2010-02-25 | 2014-09-23 | Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. | Pressure sensing gastric banding system |
JP5445407B2 (en) * | 2010-09-08 | 2014-03-19 | 横河電機株式会社 | Biological information measuring device |
DE102011106916B4 (en) | 2011-07-08 | 2021-10-28 | Carl Zeiss Microscopy Gmbh | Scanning confocal incident light microscope, method and program for operating such a microscope |
WO2022035707A1 (en) * | 2020-08-08 | 2022-02-17 | Pavilion Integration Corporation | Multi-core fiber, methods of making and use thereof |
Citations (64)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3720822A (en) * | 1971-01-29 | 1973-03-13 | Xenotech Inc | Xenon photography light |
US4011403A (en) * | 1976-03-30 | 1977-03-08 | Northwestern University | Fiber optic laser illuminators |
US4063106A (en) * | 1977-04-25 | 1977-12-13 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Optical fiber Raman oscillator |
US4632100A (en) * | 1985-08-29 | 1986-12-30 | Marlowe E. Goble | Suture anchor assembly |
US5034613A (en) * | 1989-11-14 | 1991-07-23 | Cornell Research Foundation, Inc. | Two-photon laser microscopy |
US5155792A (en) * | 1991-06-27 | 1992-10-13 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Low index of refraction optical fiber with tubular core and/or cladding |
US5161053A (en) * | 1988-08-01 | 1992-11-03 | Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research | Confocal microscope |
US5272330A (en) * | 1990-11-19 | 1993-12-21 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Near field scanning optical microscope having a tapered waveguide |
US5286970A (en) * | 1990-11-19 | 1994-02-15 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Near field optical microscopic examination of a biological specimen |
US5286971A (en) * | 1990-11-19 | 1994-02-15 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Data recording using a near field optical probe |
US5302135A (en) * | 1993-02-09 | 1994-04-12 | Lee Feng Jui | Electrical plug |
US5350921A (en) * | 1992-07-29 | 1994-09-27 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Analytical electron microscope and a method of operating such an electron microscope |
US5500000A (en) * | 1993-07-01 | 1996-03-19 | United States Surgical Corporation | Soft tissue repair system and method |
US5537247A (en) * | 1994-03-15 | 1996-07-16 | Technical Instrument Company | Single aperture confocal imaging system |
US5541613A (en) * | 1994-11-03 | 1996-07-30 | Hughes Aircraft Company, Hughes Electronics | Efficient broadband antenna system using photonic bandgap crystals |
US5777732A (en) * | 1994-04-28 | 1998-07-07 | Hanninen; Pekka | Luminescence-scanning microscopy process and a luminescence scanning microscope utilizing picosecond or greater pulse lasers |
US5786890A (en) * | 1996-03-22 | 1998-07-28 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Optical output detector |
US5796477A (en) * | 1997-02-27 | 1998-08-18 | Trustees Of Boston University | Entangled-photon microscopy, spectroscopy, and display |
US5799126A (en) * | 1993-08-03 | 1998-08-25 | Fujitsu Limited | Light guide device, light source device, and liquid crystal display device |
US5802236A (en) * | 1997-02-14 | 1998-09-01 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Article comprising a micro-structured optical fiber, and method of making such fiber |
US5862287A (en) * | 1996-12-13 | 1999-01-19 | Imra America, Inc. | Apparatus and method for delivery of dispersion compensated ultrashort optical pulses with high peak power |
US5861984A (en) * | 1995-03-31 | 1999-01-19 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Confocal scanning microscope and beamsplitter therefor |
US5903688A (en) * | 1994-08-25 | 1999-05-11 | Leica Lasertechnik Gmbh | Device for feeding a UV laser into a confocal laser scanning microscope |
US5967653A (en) * | 1997-08-06 | 1999-10-19 | Miller; Jack V. | Light projector with parabolic transition format coupler |
US5995281A (en) * | 1997-04-09 | 1999-11-30 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Device for coupling the radiation of short-pulse lasers in an optical beam path of a microscope |
US6002522A (en) * | 1996-06-11 | 1999-12-14 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Optical functional element comprising photonic crystal |
US6005709A (en) * | 1996-06-05 | 1999-12-21 | Marine Biological Laboratory | Microscope system for using transmitted light to observe living organisms |
US6052238A (en) * | 1997-07-08 | 2000-04-18 | Nec Research Institute, Inc. | Near-field scanning optical microscope having a sub-wavelength aperture array for enhanced light transmission |
US6055097A (en) * | 1993-02-05 | 2000-04-25 | Carnegie Mellon University | Field synthesis and optical subsectioning for standing wave microscopy |
US6068648A (en) * | 1998-01-26 | 2000-05-30 | Orthodyne, Inc. | Tissue anchoring system and method |
US6097870A (en) * | 1999-05-17 | 2000-08-01 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Article utilizing optical waveguides with anomalous dispersion at vis-nir wavelenghts |
US6102947A (en) * | 1995-07-20 | 2000-08-15 | Gordon; Leonard | Splint with flexible body for repair of tendons or ligaments and method |
US6108127A (en) * | 1997-05-15 | 2000-08-22 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | High resolution confocal microscope |
US6154310A (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 2000-11-28 | Imra America, Inc. | Ultrashort-pulse source with controllable multiple-wavelength output |
US6178041B1 (en) * | 1996-06-04 | 2001-01-23 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Device for coupling the radiation of short-pulse lasers in an optical beam path of a microscope |
US6206931B1 (en) * | 1996-08-23 | 2001-03-27 | Cook Incorporated | Graft prosthesis materials |
US6236779B1 (en) * | 1999-05-24 | 2001-05-22 | Spectra Physics Lasers, Inc. | Photonic crystal fiber system for sub-picosecond pulses |
US6243522B1 (en) * | 1998-12-21 | 2001-06-05 | Corning Incorporated | Photonic crystal fiber |
US6252665B1 (en) * | 1999-05-20 | 2001-06-26 | California Institute Of Technology | Lithography using quantum entangled particles |
US20020028044A1 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2002-03-07 | Holger Birk | Method and instrument for microscopy |
US6356088B1 (en) * | 1997-08-01 | 2002-03-12 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Highly compact laser scanning microscope with integrated short-pulse laser |
US6369928B1 (en) * | 2000-11-01 | 2002-04-09 | Optical Biopsy Technologies, Inc. | Fiber-coupled, angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning microscopes for performing reflective and two-photon fluorescence imaging |
US20020043622A1 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2002-04-18 | Holger Birk | Arrangement for studying microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope |
US6396053B1 (en) * | 1998-11-02 | 2002-05-28 | Olympus Optical Co. | Scanning optical microscope apparatus capable of detecting a plurality of flourescent light beams |
US6404966B1 (en) * | 1998-05-07 | 2002-06-11 | Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corporation | Optical fiber |
US6424665B1 (en) * | 1999-04-30 | 2002-07-23 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Ultra-bright source of polarization-entangled photons |
US6514784B1 (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2003-02-04 | National Research Council Of Canada | Laser-induced bandgap shifting for photonic device integration |
US6567164B2 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2003-05-20 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Entangled-photon microscope and confocal microscope |
US6592571B1 (en) * | 2000-05-24 | 2003-07-15 | Medtronic, Inc. | Drug pump with suture loops flush to outer surface |
US6594074B1 (en) * | 1998-08-04 | 2003-07-15 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Microscope, especially laser scanning microscope with rotatable interference filters |
US6599310B2 (en) * | 2001-06-29 | 2003-07-29 | Quill Medical, Inc. | Suture method |
US6611643B2 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2003-08-26 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Illuminating device and microscope |
US6654166B2 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2003-11-25 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Scanning microscope with multiband illumination and optical component for a scanning microscope with multiband illumination |
US6658183B1 (en) * | 2000-10-20 | 2003-12-02 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Process for fabricating tapered microstructured fiber system and resultant system |
US6666892B2 (en) * | 1996-08-23 | 2003-12-23 | Cook Biotech Incorporated | Multi-formed collagenous biomaterial medical device |
US20040028356A1 (en) * | 2000-05-05 | 2004-02-12 | Timothy Birks | Nonlinear optical device |
US6710918B2 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2004-03-23 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Scanning microscope |
US6721476B2 (en) * | 2001-12-03 | 2004-04-13 | Honeywell International Inc. | Optical demultiplexer based on three-dimensionally periodic photonic crystals |
US6755868B2 (en) * | 2002-03-22 | 2004-06-29 | Ethicon, Inc. | Hernia repair device |
US20040144395A1 (en) * | 2002-08-02 | 2004-07-29 | Evans Douglas G | Self-anchoring sling and introducer system |
US6773450B2 (en) * | 2002-08-09 | 2004-08-10 | Quill Medical, Inc. | Suture anchor and method |
US6788456B2 (en) * | 2001-08-13 | 2004-09-07 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Illumination device and illumination method for a scanning microscope |
US6796699B2 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2004-09-28 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Laser illuminator and method |
US6885683B1 (en) * | 2000-05-23 | 2005-04-26 | Imra America, Inc. | Modular, high energy, widely-tunable ultrafast fiber source |
Family Cites Families (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2516859Y2 (en) * | 1990-04-23 | 1996-11-13 | 三菱電線工業株式会社 | Optical fiber amplifier |
US5127730A (en) | 1990-08-10 | 1992-07-07 | Regents Of The University Of Minnesota | Multi-color laser scanning confocal imaging system |
US5784162A (en) * | 1993-08-18 | 1998-07-21 | Applied Spectral Imaging Ltd. | Spectral bio-imaging methods for biological research, medical diagnostics and therapy |
US5283433A (en) | 1992-10-05 | 1994-02-01 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Scanning confocal microscope providing a continuous display |
DE4446185C2 (en) | 1994-08-25 | 1997-03-27 | Leica Lasertechnik | Device for coupling a UV laser beam into a confocal laser scanning microscope |
JPH08211296A (en) * | 1995-02-03 | 1996-08-20 | Shimadzu Corp | Confocal scanning type optical microscope |
US5784152A (en) | 1995-03-16 | 1998-07-21 | Bio-Rad Laboratories | Tunable excitation and/or tunable detection microplate reader |
DE19758745C5 (en) * | 1997-01-27 | 2008-09-25 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Laser Scanning Microscope |
US5999548A (en) | 1997-06-18 | 1999-12-07 | Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corporation | White optical pulse source and applications |
GB9713422D0 (en) * | 1997-06-26 | 1997-08-27 | Secr Defence | Single mode optical fibre |
JPH11174332A (en) * | 1997-12-11 | 1999-07-02 | Nikon Corp | Laser microscope |
EP1055144B1 (en) * | 1998-02-19 | 2015-01-14 | Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH | Optical arrangement with a spectrally selective element |
DE19906757B4 (en) * | 1998-02-19 | 2004-07-15 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | microscope |
JP4406108B2 (en) * | 1998-03-11 | 2010-01-27 | オリンパス株式会社 | Multiphoton excitation laser microscope |
DE19827140C2 (en) * | 1998-06-18 | 2002-12-12 | Zeiss Carl Jena Gmbh | Laser scanning microscope with AOTF |
DE19829981C2 (en) * | 1998-07-04 | 2002-10-17 | Zeiss Carl Jena Gmbh | Method and arrangement for confocal microscopy |
DE19829954A1 (en) | 1998-07-04 | 2000-01-05 | Zeiss Carl Jena Gmbh | Beam splitter for use in a laser scanning microscope |
KR100328291B1 (en) | 1998-07-14 | 2002-08-08 | 노베라 옵틱스 인코포레이티드 | Fiber-optic light source with active amplifier-specific gain and variable output spectrum |
DE19840926B4 (en) * | 1998-09-08 | 2013-07-11 | Hell Gravure Systems Gmbh & Co. Kg | Arrangement for material processing by means of laser beams and their use |
GB9903918D0 (en) * | 1999-02-19 | 1999-04-14 | Univ Bath | Improvements in and relating to photonic crystal fibres |
-
2001
- 2001-03-29 DE DE20122783U patent/DE20122783U1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-06-01 EP EP01112880A patent/EP1164400B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-06-15 US US09/881,062 patent/US6888674B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-06-18 JP JP2001183690A patent/JP4560243B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2005
- 2005-01-14 US US11/034,888 patent/US7123408B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2006
- 2006-10-13 US US11/580,065 patent/US20070035822A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (66)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3720822A (en) * | 1971-01-29 | 1973-03-13 | Xenotech Inc | Xenon photography light |
US4011403A (en) * | 1976-03-30 | 1977-03-08 | Northwestern University | Fiber optic laser illuminators |
US4063106A (en) * | 1977-04-25 | 1977-12-13 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Optical fiber Raman oscillator |
US4632100A (en) * | 1985-08-29 | 1986-12-30 | Marlowe E. Goble | Suture anchor assembly |
US5161053A (en) * | 1988-08-01 | 1992-11-03 | Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research | Confocal microscope |
US5034613A (en) * | 1989-11-14 | 1991-07-23 | Cornell Research Foundation, Inc. | Two-photon laser microscopy |
US5288998A (en) * | 1990-11-19 | 1994-02-22 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Manufacturing method including photoresist processing using a near-field optical probe |
US5272330A (en) * | 1990-11-19 | 1993-12-21 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Near field scanning optical microscope having a tapered waveguide |
US5286970A (en) * | 1990-11-19 | 1994-02-15 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Near field optical microscopic examination of a biological specimen |
US5286971A (en) * | 1990-11-19 | 1994-02-15 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Data recording using a near field optical probe |
US5288996A (en) * | 1990-11-19 | 1994-02-22 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Near-field optical microscopic examination of genetic material |
US5155792A (en) * | 1991-06-27 | 1992-10-13 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Low index of refraction optical fiber with tubular core and/or cladding |
US5350921A (en) * | 1992-07-29 | 1994-09-27 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Analytical electron microscope and a method of operating such an electron microscope |
US6055097A (en) * | 1993-02-05 | 2000-04-25 | Carnegie Mellon University | Field synthesis and optical subsectioning for standing wave microscopy |
US5302135A (en) * | 1993-02-09 | 1994-04-12 | Lee Feng Jui | Electrical plug |
US5500000A (en) * | 1993-07-01 | 1996-03-19 | United States Surgical Corporation | Soft tissue repair system and method |
US5799126A (en) * | 1993-08-03 | 1998-08-25 | Fujitsu Limited | Light guide device, light source device, and liquid crystal display device |
US5537247A (en) * | 1994-03-15 | 1996-07-16 | Technical Instrument Company | Single aperture confocal imaging system |
US5777732A (en) * | 1994-04-28 | 1998-07-07 | Hanninen; Pekka | Luminescence-scanning microscopy process and a luminescence scanning microscope utilizing picosecond or greater pulse lasers |
US5903688A (en) * | 1994-08-25 | 1999-05-11 | Leica Lasertechnik Gmbh | Device for feeding a UV laser into a confocal laser scanning microscope |
US5541613A (en) * | 1994-11-03 | 1996-07-30 | Hughes Aircraft Company, Hughes Electronics | Efficient broadband antenna system using photonic bandgap crystals |
US5861984A (en) * | 1995-03-31 | 1999-01-19 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Confocal scanning microscope and beamsplitter therefor |
US6102947A (en) * | 1995-07-20 | 2000-08-15 | Gordon; Leonard | Splint with flexible body for repair of tendons or ligaments and method |
US5786890A (en) * | 1996-03-22 | 1998-07-28 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Optical output detector |
US6178041B1 (en) * | 1996-06-04 | 2001-01-23 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Device for coupling the radiation of short-pulse lasers in an optical beam path of a microscope |
US6005709A (en) * | 1996-06-05 | 1999-12-21 | Marine Biological Laboratory | Microscope system for using transmitted light to observe living organisms |
US6002522A (en) * | 1996-06-11 | 1999-12-14 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Optical functional element comprising photonic crystal |
US6206931B1 (en) * | 1996-08-23 | 2001-03-27 | Cook Incorporated | Graft prosthesis materials |
US6666892B2 (en) * | 1996-08-23 | 2003-12-23 | Cook Biotech Incorporated | Multi-formed collagenous biomaterial medical device |
US5862287A (en) * | 1996-12-13 | 1999-01-19 | Imra America, Inc. | Apparatus and method for delivery of dispersion compensated ultrashort optical pulses with high peak power |
US5802236A (en) * | 1997-02-14 | 1998-09-01 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Article comprising a micro-structured optical fiber, and method of making such fiber |
US5796477A (en) * | 1997-02-27 | 1998-08-18 | Trustees Of Boston University | Entangled-photon microscopy, spectroscopy, and display |
US5995281A (en) * | 1997-04-09 | 1999-11-30 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Device for coupling the radiation of short-pulse lasers in an optical beam path of a microscope |
US6108127A (en) * | 1997-05-15 | 2000-08-22 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | High resolution confocal microscope |
US6052238A (en) * | 1997-07-08 | 2000-04-18 | Nec Research Institute, Inc. | Near-field scanning optical microscope having a sub-wavelength aperture array for enhanced light transmission |
US6356088B1 (en) * | 1997-08-01 | 2002-03-12 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Highly compact laser scanning microscope with integrated short-pulse laser |
US5967653A (en) * | 1997-08-06 | 1999-10-19 | Miller; Jack V. | Light projector with parabolic transition format coupler |
US6154310A (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 2000-11-28 | Imra America, Inc. | Ultrashort-pulse source with controllable multiple-wavelength output |
US6068648A (en) * | 1998-01-26 | 2000-05-30 | Orthodyne, Inc. | Tissue anchoring system and method |
US6404966B1 (en) * | 1998-05-07 | 2002-06-11 | Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corporation | Optical fiber |
US6594074B1 (en) * | 1998-08-04 | 2003-07-15 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Microscope, especially laser scanning microscope with rotatable interference filters |
US6396053B1 (en) * | 1998-11-02 | 2002-05-28 | Olympus Optical Co. | Scanning optical microscope apparatus capable of detecting a plurality of flourescent light beams |
US6243522B1 (en) * | 1998-12-21 | 2001-06-05 | Corning Incorporated | Photonic crystal fiber |
US6424665B1 (en) * | 1999-04-30 | 2002-07-23 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Ultra-bright source of polarization-entangled photons |
US6097870A (en) * | 1999-05-17 | 2000-08-01 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Article utilizing optical waveguides with anomalous dispersion at vis-nir wavelenghts |
US6252665B1 (en) * | 1999-05-20 | 2001-06-26 | California Institute Of Technology | Lithography using quantum entangled particles |
US6236779B1 (en) * | 1999-05-24 | 2001-05-22 | Spectra Physics Lasers, Inc. | Photonic crystal fiber system for sub-picosecond pulses |
US20040028356A1 (en) * | 2000-05-05 | 2004-02-12 | Timothy Birks | Nonlinear optical device |
US6885683B1 (en) * | 2000-05-23 | 2005-04-26 | Imra America, Inc. | Modular, high energy, widely-tunable ultrafast fiber source |
US6592571B1 (en) * | 2000-05-24 | 2003-07-15 | Medtronic, Inc. | Drug pump with suture loops flush to outer surface |
US6710918B2 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2004-03-23 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Scanning microscope |
US6567164B2 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2003-05-20 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Entangled-photon microscope and confocal microscope |
US20020028044A1 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2002-03-07 | Holger Birk | Method and instrument for microscopy |
US6796699B2 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2004-09-28 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Laser illuminator and method |
US6654166B2 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2003-11-25 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Scanning microscope with multiband illumination and optical component for a scanning microscope with multiband illumination |
US20020043622A1 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2002-04-18 | Holger Birk | Arrangement for studying microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope |
US6611643B2 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2003-08-26 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Illuminating device and microscope |
US6514784B1 (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2003-02-04 | National Research Council Of Canada | Laser-induced bandgap shifting for photonic device integration |
US6658183B1 (en) * | 2000-10-20 | 2003-12-02 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Process for fabricating tapered microstructured fiber system and resultant system |
US6369928B1 (en) * | 2000-11-01 | 2002-04-09 | Optical Biopsy Technologies, Inc. | Fiber-coupled, angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning microscopes for performing reflective and two-photon fluorescence imaging |
US6599310B2 (en) * | 2001-06-29 | 2003-07-29 | Quill Medical, Inc. | Suture method |
US6788456B2 (en) * | 2001-08-13 | 2004-09-07 | Leica Microsystems Heidelberg Gmbh | Illumination device and illumination method for a scanning microscope |
US6721476B2 (en) * | 2001-12-03 | 2004-04-13 | Honeywell International Inc. | Optical demultiplexer based on three-dimensionally periodic photonic crystals |
US6755868B2 (en) * | 2002-03-22 | 2004-06-29 | Ethicon, Inc. | Hernia repair device |
US20040144395A1 (en) * | 2002-08-02 | 2004-07-29 | Evans Douglas G | Self-anchoring sling and introducer system |
US6773450B2 (en) * | 2002-08-09 | 2004-08-10 | Quill Medical, Inc. | Suture anchor and method |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070025662A1 (en) * | 2003-09-05 | 2007-02-01 | Leica Microsystems Cms Gmbh | Light source comprising a plurality of microstructured optical elements |
US7466885B2 (en) * | 2003-09-05 | 2008-12-16 | Leica Microsystems Cms Gmbh | Light source comprising a plurality of microstructured optical elements |
WO2011042524A1 (en) * | 2009-10-08 | 2011-04-14 | Leica Microsystems Cms Gmbh | Laser system for a microscope and method for operating a laser system for a microscope |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE20122783U1 (en) | 2007-11-15 |
JP4560243B2 (en) | 2010-10-13 |
US7123408B2 (en) | 2006-10-17 |
US6888674B1 (en) | 2005-05-03 |
US20050122580A1 (en) | 2005-06-09 |
EP1164400A1 (en) | 2001-12-19 |
EP1164400B1 (en) | 2008-09-03 |
JP2002055284A (en) | 2002-02-20 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7679822B2 (en) | Broadband laser illumination device for a scanning microscope with output stabilization | |
US7123408B2 (en) | Arrangement for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope, and illumination device for a scanning microscope | |
US6611643B2 (en) | Illuminating device and microscope | |
US7466885B2 (en) | Light source comprising a plurality of microstructured optical elements | |
US6796699B2 (en) | Laser illuminator and method | |
US6567164B2 (en) | Entangled-photon microscope and confocal microscope | |
US6898367B2 (en) | Method and instrument for microscopy | |
US6710918B2 (en) | Scanning microscope | |
US6958858B2 (en) | Method for scanning microscopy; and scanning microscope | |
JP5046442B2 (en) | Apparatus for examining microscopic preparations with a scanning microscope | |
US6781752B2 (en) | Optical arrangement for the illumination of specimens for confocal scanning microscopes | |
US6806953B2 (en) | Method for fluorescence microscopy, and fluorescence microscope | |
US20060165359A1 (en) | Light source with a microstructured optica element and miroscope with a light source |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |