The Swept Field Confocal Microscope

描述（由申请人提供） 共聚焦显微镜是生物科学的重要工具。它有 显著增强了对神经科学假设的检验， 提供了对神经系统疾病病因的深入了解。这个目标 项目是开发一种基于新概念的新型共焦显微镜， 扫描场共焦设计（SFC）。证监会有潜力成为 个人可购买的光学显微镜附件 5万美元的科学家SFC是一个革命性的共焦概念， 该混合仪器使用86 × 12的固定针孔阵列， 沿着一个轴（例如Y轴）的照明和检测，同时使用一个 电流计沿X轴沿着扫描照明。一期工程 有五个具体目标。 我们将：1）设计和建立一个扫频场共聚焦显微镜; 2）修改 现有数码相机采集软件制作SFC控制软件; 3） 比较SFC和当前LSCM的光学效率和分辨率; 4)计算SFC的制造成本，并确定SFC是否 可以以45，000美元的价格上市，最后5）测试 扫描场共聚焦显微镜在生物学中应用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) Confocal microscopy is an essential tool for the biological sciences. It has significantly enhanced the testing of hypotheses in the Neurosciences and has provided insights into the causes of neurological disorders. The goal of this project is to develop a new type of confocal microscope based on a new concept, the swept-field confocal design (SFC). The SFC has the potential of becoming an attachment for the light microscope that could be purchased by the individual scientist for under $50,000. The SFC is a revolutionary confocal concept in which this hybrid-instrument uses an 86 x 12 array of stationary pinholes for illumination and detection along one axis (e.g. the Y axis) while using one galvanometer to sweep the illumination along the X axis. This phase I project has five specific objectives. We will: 1) Design and build a swept-field confocal microscope; 2) modify existing digital camera acquisition software to make SFC control software; 3) Compare the optical efficiency and resolution of the SFC and present day LSCMs; 4) Calculate the manufacturing costs of the SFC and determine whether the SFC could come to market at $45,000, and finally 5) Test the performance of the swept-field confocal microscope in biological applications.