Real-time confocal scanning optical microscope

Abstract

A real‐time confocal scanning optical microscope is described. It is capable of generating 640 frames per second with 7000 lines per frame. It achieves this speed by simultaneously illuminating several thousand pinholes arranged in a spiral pattern on a rotating disk. An optical isolator is used to eliminate reflections from the surface of the disk. This type of microscope should have the same range and transverse definitions as a standard, single pinhole, confocal microscope.