Patent ID: 7257289

Claim:
A method for data acquisition using a spectral scanning microscope, comprising the following steps: a) generating an illuminating light beam having a white light spectrum by propagating laser light from a laser source through a microstructured element and spectrally widening the laser light, the illuminating light beam having a continuous white light region; b) selecting a continuous illumination wavelength subregion from the continuous wavelength region of the illuminating light; c) setting a detection unit to a selceted detection wavelength subregion; d) performing an image or volume acquisition process and obtaining acquired image data; e) analyzing the acquired image data by means of a data analysis algorithm and obtaining analyzed data; f) determining a transfer spectrum χ i (λ ex , λ em ) for a pixel in the analyzed data; and g) using the transfer spectrum to adjust the illumination wavelength subregion and the detection wavelength subregion for subsequent data acquisition.