Patent ID: 7330305
Filing Date: 2008-02-12
Classification: A61B,G02B

Abstract:
1. A confocal microscope or endoscope, having: a source of coherent light for illumination of a sample; a light focuser for receiving and focusing said coherent light to an illumination volume that in use intersects said sample; a single optical fibre for transmitting said coherent light from said source to said light focuser; a beam-splitter for receiving return light returned from said sample in response to said illumination and for separating from said return light a fluorescent component of said return light; at least one optical element for spectrally dispersing said fluorescent component; and an imaging optical fibre bundle of individual fibres, said fibre bundle having an entry end located to receive said dispersed fluorescent component of said return light so that said fluorescent component is transmitted to an exit end of said fibre bundle; wherein said dispersed fluorescent component is received and transmitted by a plurality of said individual fibres of said fibre bundle and said fibre bundle preserves, between said entry end and said exit end of said fibre bundle, the relative spatial coordinates of the cores of said individual fibres.