Method and equipment for fibre optic high-resolution, in particular confocal, fluorescence imaging

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The invention concerns a method using an image guide consisting of several thousands of optical fibers an excitation signal being emitted by a source deflected and injected by turns into the optical fibers of said guide each excitation point of the tissue in the fiber output emitting in return a fluorescence signal collected by said fiber then detected and digitized to form an image element. According to a first aspect of the invention the method provides for the focussing of the beam in the fiber output to excite a subsurface plane to produce a confocal image. According to a second aspect the method provides for the production of a divergent beam in the fiber output capable of exciting a …