Patent ID: 7724426

Claim:
A laser scanning microscope that emits a laser beam for observation for observing a sample placed on a stage in a manner such that the laser beam two-dimensionally scans the sample, detects the light emitted from the sample, and forms a fluorescent image, the laser scanning microscope comprising: a laser beam source for stimulation that emits a laser beam for stimulation for supplying photostimulation to the sample; a scanning unit for stimulation that performs scanning with the laser beam for stimulation; a control unit that controls the scanning unit for stimulation in response to a position and range of a region for photostimulation; and an objective lens that condenses the laser beam for stimulation used for scanning by the scanning unit for stimulation and emits the laser beam to the sample, wherein the scanning unit for stimulation comprises at least one acoustooptic device arranged on an optical path of the laser beam for stimulation, and wherein the control unit is adapted to determine a plurality of frequencies and to simultaneously apply high-frequency signals of the determined plurality of frequencies to a vibrator attached to the acoustooptic device, thereby causing the laser beam to be simultaneously deflected in a plurality of diffractive angles.