Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

Laser scanning microscopy is an essential bio-imaging technique. A laser scanning microscope uses a laser scanner to scan through the sample by lighting many different spots sequentially with a laser beam and transform the reflected signals into an image. To obtain clearer images from biological samples, which have generally thick layers and lack good contrast, laser scanning microscopy adopts the confocal optical system together with fluorescent contrast agents.

The confocal optical system has a pinhole placed at the focal point that filters out unwanted signals emitted from the sample. As the pinhole allows the system to detect the fluorescence only from the sample's focal point, the optical resolution of the confocal microscope is far superior to that of a wide-field microscope.

Confocal Endomicroscopy Using Micro-laser Scanner

Confocal laser scanning endomicroscopy is a technology that can make a confocal microscope to be very small and compact. It uses a laser light-carrying flexible optical fiber and a micro laser scanner. Laser light travels through the thin core of the optical fiber (less than 10㎛ in diameters) and the core acts like a pinhole. The micro laser scanner aids scanning by shaking the optical fiber. Simply put, the optical fiber performs a dual function as a pinhole and a laser scanner.

Patent status in relation to our core technologies

• ① Patent(27 patents): 2 Domestic exclusive licenses, 10 Domestic granted patents, 3 Domestic application patents, 3 US granted patents, 3 US application patents, 5 PCT domestic(USA, Europe, Canada, Australia, China), 1 PCT International
• ② Design(8 design patents): 6 Domestic granted designs, 2 US application designs
• ③ Trademark(9 trademarks): 3 Domestic registered trademarks, 2 Domestic application trademarks, 3 Madrid registered trademarks, 1 US application trademarks