The disclosed subject matter includes devices and systems for extending the imaging capability of swept, confocally aligned planar excitation (SCAPE) microscopes to in vivo applications. In embodiments, the SCAPE microscope can be implemented as an endoscopic or laparoscopic inspection instrument.

The invention relates to a multi-modal imaging system (2) for non-invasive examination of an examination object (10), comprising a multi-photon imaging system for providing high-resolution detailed images of the examination object (10), which imaging system comprises a radiation source (12), the latter generating an excitation beam (21) of near infrared femtosecond laser radiation for triggering secondary radiation emitted by the examination object (10), and a focusing optical unit (30), by means of which the radiation of the radiation source (12) is directable at a measurement position of the examination object (10), wherein the focusing optical unit (30) and a laser head (14) of the radiation source (12) are provided in a measuring head (4), which is pivotable, rotatable and flexibly positionable freely in space such that the examination of the examination object (10) is performable under any desired solid angle, and comprising at least one confocal detection device, which is at least partly integrated in the measuring head (4) as well and which is configured to receive a signal of the excitation beam (21) of near infrared femtosecond laser radiation, which was diffusely reflected by the examination object (10).

Moreover, a method is specified for non-invasive examination of an examination object (10) using a multi-modal imaging system (2), as is the use of the multi-modal imaging system (2) for examining living matter of the examination object (10)

A confocal microscope for imaging tissue having an imaging head for capturing optically formed microscopic sectional images of tissue samples, a platform upon which is disposed a linear stage for moving the imaging head along a vertical dimension, and a rotary stage to rotate the linear stage and imaging head about the vertical dimension. A mounting arm couples the imaging head to the linear stage to adjust tilt of the imaging head and to rotate the imaging head about a normal axis perpendicular to an optical axis of an objective lens of the imaging head. In a first mode of operation, the imaging head is positioned to image an ex-vivo or in-vivo tissue sample upon the platform, such as ex-vivo tissue sample mounted upon a movable specimen stage, and in a second mode of operation the imaging head is positioned to image an in-vivo tissue sample beside the platform.

Described herein are apparatuses for dental scanning and components of apparatuses for dental scanning. A component of a dental scanning apparatus may include a beam splitter, a transparency and an image sensor. The component may have a first surface and a second surface. The transparency may be affixed to the first surface of the beam splitter, and may comprise a spatial pattern disposed thereon and be configured to be illuminated by a light source of the dental scanning apparatus. The image sensor may be affixed to the second surface of the beam splitter, wherein as a result of the transparency being affixed to the first surface of the beam splitter and the image sensor being affixed to the second surface of the beam splitter, the image sensor maintains a stable relative position to the spatial pattern of the transparency.

An optical device may include an optical fiber having a fixed end and a free end; a first actuator positioned at a actuator position between the fixed end and the free end and configured to apply a first force on the actuator position of the optical fiber such that a movement of the free end of the optical fiber in a first direction is caused, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber; and a deformable rod disposed adjacent to the optical fiber, and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to a first rod position of the optical fiber and the second end is connected to a second rod position of the optical fiber.

A probe for performing endomicroscopy, including: a light source; a waveguide coupled to the light source; a diffraction grating, the waveguide directing light from the light source to the diffraction grating; and a lens having a first aspheric surface and a second biconic surface, diffracted light from the diffraction grating being directed into the aspheric surface of the lens and being emitted from the biconic surface of the lens towards a transparent cylindrical surface of the probe.

An optical device may include an optical fiber having a fixed end and a free end; a first actuator positioned at a actuator position between the fixed end and the free end and configured to apply a first force on the actuator position of the optical fiber such that a movement of the free end of the optical fiber in a first direction is caused, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber; and a deformable rod disposed adjacent to the optical fiber, and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to a first rod position of the optical fiber and the second end is connected to a second rod position of the optical fiber.

An optical microscopy probe for scanning microscopy imaging of object has a housing with an optical window at a side position at the distal end of the housing, and an optical guide having an objective lens rigidly coupled to an end portion of the optical guide. The optical guide is displaceably mounted in a transverse direction of the housing so as to enable optical scanning in a region of interest. A relay lens unit is rigidly mounted at the distal end of the probe and it has a first lens, a second lens and a mirror. The relay lens unit is optically arranged relative to the objective lens for allowing scanning microscopy through the optical window at the side of the distal end of the housing.

Volumetric imaging with selective volume illumination (SVI) using light field detection is provided using various systems and techniques. A volumetric imaging apparatus includes a light source configured to emit an illumination light that propagates via an illumination light path to illuminate a three-dimensional (3D) sample; and an optical system arranged with respect to the light source to receive a light field, which comes from the illuminated 3D sample. The light field propagates via a detection light path, and the light source, the optical system, or both; are configurable to perform SVI, which selects a volume of a 3D-confined illumination of the 3D sample based on the 3D sample to be illuminated and a light field detection (LFD) process to be applied. Further, the volume of the 3D-confined illumination is a selected 3D volume of the 3D sample to be particularly excited by the 3D-confined illumination for imaging.

The invention relates to a medical inspection apparatus (1), such as a microscope or endoscope, and to a medical inspection method such as microscopy or endoscopy. Visible image data (11) representing a visible-light image (49) and fluorescence image data (12) representing a fluorescent-light image (51) and a pseudocolor (70, 71) are merged to give an improved visual rendition of an object (2) which comprises at least one fluorophore (6) to mark special features of the object (2). This is accomplished in that an image processing unit (18) of the microscope (1) or endoscope is configured to compute a color (r.sub.o, g.sub.o, b.sub.o) of an output pixel (54) in the pseudocolor image (53) from at least one pseudocolor (r.sub.p, g.sub.p, b.sub.p), a color (r.sub.i, g.sub.i, b.sub.i) of a first input pixel (50) in the visible-light image (49) and an intensity (f) of a second input pixel (52) in the fluorescent-light image (51). In particular, the color (r.sub.o, g.sub.o, b.sub.o) may result from a linear interpolation in a color space (RGB) between the pseudocolor and the color of the first input pixel (50) of the visible-light image (49) depending on the intensity (f) of the second input pixel (52) in the fluorescent-light image.