What is confocal laser scanning microscopy used for?

What is confocal laser scanning microscopy used for?

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) allows optical slicing through tissue. By eliminating out-of-focus images, CLSM affords greater spatial resolution in living tissue and allows visualization of living structures as small as dendritic spines (Fig. 18.7).

What is in vivo confocal microscopy?

In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is an emerging noninvasive imaging and diagnostic tool, which enables morphological and quantitative analysis of ocular surface microstructure. The principal of confocal microscopy was patented in 1957 by Marvin Minsky .

What type of laser is used in confocal microscopy?

The air-cooled argon-ion laser is widely employed as a light source for confocal microscopy because of its brightness level, small size, excellent beam geometry, and the suitability of its spectral lines for fluorescein and (less efficiently) rhodamine excitation.

How does confocal microscopy work?

Confocal microscopy uses light from a laser through the objective of a standard light microscope to excite a specimen within a narrow plane of focus. Any emission of light from out-of-focus planes is rejected by the pinhole, or confocal aperture. A simplified lightpath for a confocal microscope is illustrated below.

What is confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy?

Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy is a non–invasive investigation that has been used initially to receive three–dimensional images of the retinal surface in vivo. The commercial name of the device is Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT). Two variants are used in current practice: HRT Ⅱ and HRT Ⅲ.

What is confocal microscopy in dermatology?

In dermatology, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive imaging technique that enables in vivo visualisation of the epidermis down to the papillary dermis in real-time. Resolution is almost comparable to conventional histology.

How does a laser confocal work?

A confocal microscope uses a laser light source, pinhole spatial filters, multiple objective lenses, and fluorescent dyes to generate a microscopic image. The laser provides excitation light, which reflects off of a mirror. The laser light then hits two mirrors that are mounted.

What’s the meaning of confocal?

having the same focus
“Confocal” is defined as “having the same focus.” What this means in the microscope is that the final image has the same focus as or the focus corresponds to the point of focus in the object.

How does confocal scanning microscope work?

Why confocal microscopy is called confocal?

In contrast, a confocal microscope uses point illumination (see Point Spread Function) and a pinhole in an optically conjugate plane in front of the detector to eliminate out-of-focus signal – the name “confocal” stems from this configuration.

What is RCM in dermatology?

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a optical imaging technique that affords an horizontal view of the skin until superficial dermis. RCM uses a laser light, at near infrared wavelength (830 nm), as a source of coherent monochromatic light which penetrates the tissue and illuminates a single point.

What is a Dermatoscope used for?

A dermatoscope is a handheld instrument, a bit like a magnifying glass. It can make things bigger (magnify) by up to 10 times. Your specialist puts some oil or gel onto your skin. They then hold the dermatoscope on to your skin so they can examine the area very closely.

What is RCM microscopy?

What is the light used by dermatologists?

For sun damage and the treatment of precancerous lesions and skin cancer prevention, dermatologists use photodynamic therapy. This therapy relies on violet and blue light called ultraviolet, or UV light, with the aid of a photosynthesizing drug.