Patent ID: 6567585
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of image sharpening in a confocal microscopy or endoscopy observation, comprising:collecting true confocal return light emanating from an observational field of an object; focussing said true confocal return light into a core of a fiber wave-guide; collecting near confocal return light from a volume partially overlapping said observational field and thereby defining an overlap volume; focussing said near confocal return light into said fiber wave-guide so as to be transmitted principally in a cladding of said fiber wave-guide; separately detecting said true confocal return light and said near confocal return light to produce a true confocal output signal and a near confocal output signal; and adjusting said true confocal output signal on the basis of said near confocal output signal to substantially eliminate from said true confocal output signal a component due to said near confocal output signal; whereby the effective volume of said observational field is reduced and the resolution of said observation is effectively increased.