Abstract: A system using cross polarization effects and an enhancement agent having citric or other similar alpha hydroxy acid to enhance confocal microscope reflectance images and particularly images of the nuclei of BCCs (basal cell carcinomas) and SCCs (squamous cell carcinomas) in the confocal reflectance images of excised tumor slices obtained during Mohs surgery by illuminating the tissue being imaged (a tumor slice) using polarized light. The reflected illumination is passed to a polarization analyzer, which passes the polarization component which is crossed with respect to the polarization of the illuminating light. The light from the analyzer is passed through the confocal aperture and detected. The section of the tissue either at the surface or within the tissue is scanned and the reflectance image is produced with enhanced visualization of the cellular or nuclear structure thereof thereby enabling determination of the extent of the tumor (cancerous cells) in the section.

Abstract: An integrating rod (200) for use with a multiple segment dynamic filter, such as a spiral dichroic color wheel having three or more narrow filters adjacent to the exit face (206) to enable the integrating rod to recapture light rejected by a given segment of the dynamic filter. The rejected light travels back through the integrating rod where a majority of the light strikes the mirrored entrance face (202). Light reflected by the mirrored entrance face, or light exiting through the entrance aperture (204) and returning to the integrating rod after being reflected by the lamp reflector, once again travels to the exit face (206) of the integrating rod (200). After exiting through the exit face (206) of the integrating rod (200) a second time, the recycled light has a good chance of striking a different filter segment of the dynamic filter and being used by the display system.

Abstract: A handheld inspection mirror uses right angled mirror surfaces and triangular prism means to provide a non-inverted undistorted image from objects located in remote or relatively inaccessible places.