Abstract: A microendoscope, and a microendoscopy method related to the microendoscope, each include a tube housing, where an end of the tube housing is shaped and finished to facilitate collection of light emitted from a sample when examined using the microendoscope. In addition, a catadioptric lens assembly, an endomicroscope that includes the catadioptric lens assembly and a microendoscopy method for microscopic analysis that uses the endomicroscope are predicated upon a second element and a third element within the catadioptric lens assembly that each has a dichroic coating. The placement of the dichroic coating on the second element and the third element provides for different magnification factors as a function of illumination wavelength when using the microendoscopy method.

Abstract: A microendoscope, and a microendoscopy method related to the microendoscope, each include a tube housing, where an end of the tube housing is shaped and finished to facilitate collection of light emitted from a sample when examined using the microendoscope. In addition, a catadioptric lens assembly, an endomicroscope that includes the catadioptric lens assembly and a microendoscopy method for microscopic analysis that uses the endomicroscope are predicated upon a second element and a third element within the catadioptric lens assembly that each has a dichroic coating. The placement of the dichroic coating on the second element and the third element provides for different magnification factors as a function of illumination wavelength when using the microendoscopy method.

Abstract: To avoid harmful nonlinear effects in the amplification of short optical pulses, an initial pulse is divided into a sequence of lower-energy temporally spaced pulses that are otherwise identical to the original pulse. The low-intensity pulses are amplified and then recombined to create a final amplified output pulse.

Abstract: To avoid harmful nonlinear effects in the amplification of short optical pulses, an initial pulse is divided into a sequence of lower-energy temporally spaced pulses that are otherwise identical to the original pulse. The low-intensity pulses are amplified and then recombined to create a final amplified output pulse.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of applying radiation through an optical fiber for detecting disease within a plant or animal or other penetrable tissue, or imaging a particular tissue of a plant or animal. In addition, fluorescence and nonlinear scattering signals can be detected and localized within a subject by such application of radiation through an optical fiber. The radiation is effective to promote simultaneous multiphoton excitation. The optical fibers are used alone to examine internal regions of tissue, in conjunction with an optical biopsy needle to evaluate sub-surface tissue, or with an endoscope to evaluate tissue within body cavities. The present invention also relates to a device for coupling in radiation from an ultrashort mode-locked laser into the beam path of a microscope.