Patent ID: 6967772

Claim:
A scanning microscope comprising: optical transmission means for transmitting a light beam to an exit end of said optical transmission means proximate light focusing means, the light focusing means focusing the light emerging from the exit end to illuminate a point observation field on or within an object to be examined; and a scanner mounted in an optical head casing with said light focusing means, to cause the illuminated point observation field to scan over a two-dimensional cross-section of the object in a raster fashion, the scanner having a fast scanner to scan over rows and a slow scanner operating in a transverse direction to the fast scanner to displace consecutive rows, such that an image of object emanated light over the cross section is constructible; wherein said scanner comprises a fork with a first tine comprising a longitudinally extending vibratable member and a second tine coupled to said first tine for providing a counterbalance thereto, said first and second tines are operable to vibrate by driving means in mutually opposite phases, said fast scanner and said counterbalance are provided by vibration of said first and second tines, said slow scanner is provided by rotation of said fork perpendicular to said fast scan vibration about an axis parallel to the direction of said fast scan vibration, said first tine has a forward longitudinal end adjacent said light focusing means, said point observational field is longitudinally forward of the longitudinal end of said first tine, said first tine is coupled to said exit end of said optical transmission means to provide a fast scan, said second tine balances reactive forces associated with vibration of said first tine and said exit end of said optical transmission means during operation, and said light focusing means is mounted in said optical head casing separately from said first tine whereby said light emanating from said exit end of said optical transmission means is, during operation, scanned across said light focussing means.