Patent ID: 8129697

Claim:
A laser scanning microscope that acquires images by scanning a sample with laser light, comprising: fluorescence measuring means for measuring a plurality of intensities of fluorescent light of different wavelengths that is excited by irradiation of the laser light and emitted from the sample; and irradiation control means for performing control, for each single pixel scanning time that is the amount of time during which a range corresponding to a single pixel of the image is scanned, to discontinue irradiation of the laser light in at least one of the case in which all of the plurality of intensities of fluorescent light are less than a lower limit threshold value at a lower limit value judgment time that is shorter than the time during which a range corresponding to a single pixel of the image is scanned, and the case in which any one of the plurality of intensities of fluorescent light exceeds an upper limit threshold value during the time during which a range corresponding to a single pixel of the image is scanned.