Confocal slit divided-aperture microscope: applications in ear research

A confocal, scanning slit microscope that uses separate portions of the objective aperture for illumination and imaging rays achieves a high degree of optical sectioning. This capability permits visualization of individual cells within the intact inner ear in guinea pigs and cats, and it facilitates...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied optics (2004) 1994-02, Vol.33 (4), p.702-708
Main Authors: Koester, C J, Khanna, S M, Rosskothen, H D, Tackaberry, R B, Ulfendahl, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A confocal, scanning slit microscope that uses separate portions of the objective aperture for illumination and imaging rays achieves a high degree of optical sectioning. This capability permits visualization of individual cells within the intact inner ear in guinea pigs and cats, and it facilitates directing a laser heterodyne interferometer beam so that vibration of selected cells can be measured. A concentric singlet lens is added to the front of a long-working-distance microscope objective to increase the numerical aperture from 0.4 to 0.53 while retaining a working distance of 6 mm. The measured optical-sectioning capability is compared with the theoretical performance and with the calculated curve for a full-aperture pinhole confocal system.
ISSN:1559-128X
DOI:10.1364/AO.33.000702