The design includes piezoelectric bimorph bender elements that scan the aperture in the confocal image plane to create a compact, relatively inexpensive, rugged confocal microscope which can be remotely deployed on a fiber optic cable and miniaturized for in situ analysis. The scanning unit for the microscope allows applications not possible with the conventional confocal microscope. Applications Biological and medical research on tissue samples in cytological and neurological applications.
High resolution defect analysis and topography profiles.
Materials science research on ceramics, polymers, additives, alloys, and fibers. Analysis of metal friction and wear. The fiber optic cable enables the confocal microscope to be deployed in locations and environments not suitable for more expensive models, such as underwater. Main Advantages Microscopes which use the confocal imaging technique do not require sectioning or destroying of living samples. Electron microscopes, on the other hand, can damage some specimens.