CONFOCAL IMAGING WITH BILATERAL SCANNING AND ARRAY DETECTORS

A novel arrangement for confocal microscopy is presented, in which the key elements are the use of an array detector such as a CCD for confocal image collection and the use of one double-sided scanning mirror element for bilaterally scanning the object and collecting the data on the CCD. The resulting arrangement is shown to be capable of confocal imaging with high photon efficiency under adjustable conditions of confocality and varying image acquisition rates, i.e. from slow speed up to real-time imaging. Either laser or conventional light sources may be utilized. In addition to CCD registration, direct observation by eye of the confocal image in fluorescence is also possible.