Patent ID: 6388809
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A confocal microscope comprising a light detection and analysis system, the system comprising a light detector disposed downstream from a sample substantially in a conjugate image plane of the sample, wherein the detector comprises a central detection pixel positioned to detect and measure in-focus light emanating from a discrete illumination pixel of the sample to provide in-focus data and at least one adjacent detection pixel in an x-y plane relative to the sample and positioned to independently detect and measure out-of-focus light emanating from the discrete illumination pixel of the sample in the x-y plane to provide out-of-focus data in the x-y plane, the system further comprising a controller operably connected to the detector and containing computer implemented programming that compiles and combines the in-focus data and the out-of-focus data to enhance resolution of the discrete illumination pixel of the sample when compared to a resolution obtained without using the out-of-focus data, wherein the detector comprises a plurality of adjacent detection pixels that surround the central detection pixel and that independently detect and measure out-of-focus light emanating from the discrete illumination pixel of the sample, and wherein the detector is movably connected to the sample along a z-axis of the sample such that movement of the detector relative to the sample permits the detector to detect and measure in-focus data from a focal plane of the sample along the z-axis and out-of-focus data from above or below the focal plane along the z-axis.