Patent ID: 6369928
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning system comprising an angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning head, wherein said angled-dual-illumination-axis confocal scanning head comprises:a) a first optical fiber having first and second ends, for providing a first illumination beam with a first wavelength at said first end; b) a second optical fiber having third and fourth ends, for providing a second illumination beam with a second wavelength at said third end; c) an angled-dual-axis focusing means for focusing said first and second illumination beams to first and second focal volumes along first and second axes respectively within an object, and for receiving first and second observation beams emanated from second and first focal volumes along second and first axes respectively within said object, whereby said first and second observation beams are focused onto said third end and said first end respectively; and d) a scanning means for producing an arc-line scan, wherein said scanning means is in optical communication with said angled-dual-illumination-axis focusing means and said object, wherein said scanning means receives said first and second illumination beams from said angled-dual-illumination-axis focusing means and directs said first and second illumination beams to said first and second focal volumes respectively within said object, and wherein said scanning means collects said first and second observation beams emanated from said second and first focal volumes respectively and passes said first and second observation beams to said angled-dual-illumination-axis focusing means; wherein said first and second axes intersect at an angle within said object, such that said first and second focal volumes intersect optimally at a confocal overlapping volume, and wherein said scanning means is capable of pivoting said first illumination and observation beams, along with said second illumination and observation beams, in such a way that said first and second axes remain intersecting at said angle and that said confocal overlapping volume moves along an arc-line within said object, thereby producing said arc-line scan.