Method for operating a preferably confocal laser scanning microscope

• US 6,426,490 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2000
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Storz, Rafael
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US09/582,204
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 250/201.3, 250/201.5, 250/216, 250/306, 250/307, 250/205, 372/9, 372/6, 372/12, 372/13, 372/29
• US Class Current: 250/201.3
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0024 Confocal scanning microscopes (CSOMs) or confocal "macroscopes"; Accessories which are not restricted to use with CSOMs, e.g. sample holders
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0032 Optical details of illumination, e.g. light-sources, pinholes, beam splitters, slits, fibers G02B21/0036 - G02B21/008; means for illumination of specimens in general G02B21/06
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0056 based on optical coherence, e.g. phase-contrast arrangements, interference arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0084 time-scale detection, e.g. strobed, ultra-fast, heterodyne detection

Abstract

A method for operating a preferably confocal laser scanning microscope, the laser system (1) comprising at least one solid-state laser or a diode laser, is characterized in that, in order to avoid undesired distortions of the image information, the scanning procedure or the recording of data is synchronized with the phase of an at least largely continuous emission of intensity from the laser system (1). The laser system (1) and the data recording system (3) are synchronized by a control unit (2).

Claims

1. Method for operating a laser scanning microscope, wherein a laser system comprises at least one of a solid-state laser and a diode laser, and wherein one of a scanning procedure and data recording performance of a data recording system is synchronized with the phase of an at least largely continuous emission of intensity from the laser system.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the laser system and the data recording system are synchronized by a control unit, so that data is recorded by the data recording system in the phase of the at least largely continuous emission of intensity from the laser system.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein by utilizing adjustable natural oscillations of the laser system, a peak behavior of the laser system supplies a synchronization pulse for the data recording system.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the synchronization pulse is fed indirectly or directly from the laser system to the data recording system.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the laser system receives, via a control unit, a synchronization pulse whereupon, after a dead time, the at least largely continuous emission of intensity from the laser system is sustained for a specific time period, during which data is recorded by the data recording system.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the synchronization pulse is fed indirectly or directly from the data recording system to the laser system.

7. Method according to claim 2, wherein the laser system sends a control message to the control unit, as a result of which the presence of the at least largely continuous emission of intensity from the laser system is indicated.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein said one of the scanning procedure and the data recording performance is synchronized or triggered with said phase for each individual pixel in an image to be recorded.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein said one of the scanning procedure and the data recording performance is synchronized or triggered with said phase for each individual line of an image to be recorded.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein said one of the scanning procedure and the data recording performance is synchronized or triggered with said phase within the range of a preferably selectable area of an image to be recorded.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein said one of the scanning procedure and the data recording performance is synchronized or triggered with said phase for an entire image.

12. Method according to claim 1, wherein said one of the scanning procedure and the data recording performance for a plurality of images is initiated by a synchronization pulse, so that said one of the scanning procedure and the data recording performance is jointly synchronized or triggered with said phase for said plurality of images.

13. Method according to claim 1, wherein the laser system has frequency-doubling characteristics.

14. Method according to claim 1, wherein the laser system operates with an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and is used to generate at least two different wavelengths.

15. Method according to claim 1, wherein the laser scanning microscope comprises a confocal microscope.