Abstract: An optical head includes: a point source producing an excitation beam, optical elements adapted to converge the optical beam into an excitation point located in a subsurface plane relative to the surface of a sample, the plane being perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical head; and elements for scanning the excitation point so as to define an observation field in the subsurface plane along two perpendicular scanning directions, a rapid online scanning and a slow columnar scanning. The invention includes micro-electrical mechanical systems designed to move in translation along a selected displacement at least one of the optical elements, which is mobile along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis so as to obtain at least one of the scanning directions. The invention provides the advantages of maintaining an axial illumination of the sample and of using a miniature head.

Abstract: A method for processing an image acquired through a guide consisting of a plurality of optical fibers includes, for each optical fiber, isolating on the acquired image a zone corresponding to the optical fiber, locally processing each zone individually to correct the photon flux detected in each optical fiber, then reconstructing the acquired image by eliminating the pattern caused by the optical fiber. The method also includes a sampling process for obtaining, for each optical fiber and from a sampling image, a sample injection rate which can be used for reconstructing the acquired images. The method also includes a prior step which consists in detecting the fibers from a target.

Abstract: A miniature confocal optical head (4) for a confocal imaging system, in particular endoscopic, includes a point source (2a) for producing a light beam (13); a ball lens (12) arranged at the tip of the optical head, partly outside, to cause the light beam to converge in an excitation point (19) located in a subsurface field under observation (14) of a sample (15), the digital aperture of the lens and the dimension of the point source being adapted to ensure confocality of the assembly; and a scanner (10, 211, 22) for rotating the point source so that the excitation point (19) scans the field under observation. The system produces a real-time confocal image (about 10 images/sec.) of very high quality and homogeneous in the entire field (the optical aberrations are constant in the entire field due to the spherical symmetry of the ball lens), achieved through a miniature head.

Abstract: A method using an image guide having several thousands of optical fibers, an excitation signal emitted by a source, deflected and injected by turns into the optical fibers, each excitation point of the tissue in the fiber output emitting in return a fluorescence signal collected by the fiber, then detected and digitized to form an image element. The method focuses the beam in the fiber output to excite a subsurface plane to produce a confocal image. The production of a divergent beam in the fiber output can excite a micro-volume of the tissue from the surface. The method deflects the excitation signal at a speed corresponding to acquisition of a number of images per second sufficient for real time use and in detecting the fluorescence signal at a detecting frequency corresponding to a minimum frequency for sampling the fibers one-by-one.

Abstract: An optical head for equipping the distal end of a flexible optical fiber bundle, designed to be urged into contact with an analyzing surface and including optical elements for focusing an excitation signal into a so-called excitation focal point located at a specific depth beneath the analyzing surface and for sampling a signal backscattered by the excitation focal point which is carried back by the fiber bundle. The head includes an optics-holder tube wherein are inserted on one side the distal end portion of the fiber bundle and on the other optical elements, the latter including a plate placed in contact with the end of the fiber bundle whereof the index is close to that of the fiber core and a focusing optical block, an output window being further provided adapted to provide index adaptation so as to eliminate parasitic reflection occurring on the analyzing surface.

Abstract: A parallel confocal laser microscopy system (2) includes a VCSEL vertical cavity laser array (23) for emitting light beams, optical elements (24) for focusing the light beams onto an object (25) to be observed. The invention is characterized in that a photodetector (22) is arranged behind each VCSEL laser such that the photodetector is capable of receiving a light beam backscattered from the object (25) via the VCSEL laser cavity, the cavity having an opening acting as filtering hole.

Abstract: An optical head includes: a point source producing an excitation beam, optical elements adapted to converge the optical beam into an excitation point located in a subsurface plane relative to the surface of a sample, the plane being perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical head; and elements for scanning the excitation point so as to define an observation field in the subsurface plane along two perpendicular scanning directions, a rapid online scanning and a slow columnar scanning. The invention includes micro-electrical mechanical systems designed to move in translation along a selected displacement at least one of the optical elements, which is mobile along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis so as to obtain at least one of the scanning directions. The invention provides the advantages of maintaining an axial illumination of the sample and of using a miniature head.

Abstract: A method using an image guide having several thousands of optical fibers, an excitation signal emitted by a source, deflected and injected by turns into the optical fibers, each excitation point of the tissue in the fiber output emitting in return a fluorescence signal collected by the fiber, then detected and digitized to form an image element. The method provides for the focussing of the beam in the fiber output to excite a subsurface plane to produce a confocal image, and the production of a divergent beam in the fiber output capable of exciting a micro-volume of the tissue from the surface. The method consists in deflecting the excitation signal at a speed corresponding to acquisition of a number of images per second sufficient for real time use and in detecting the fluorescence signal at a detecting frequency corresponding to a minimum frequency for sampling the fibers one by one.

Abstract: A method for processing an image acquired through a guide consisting of a plurality of optical fibers includes, for each optical fiber, isolating on the acquired image a zone corresponding to the optical fiber, locally processing each zone individually to correct the photon flux detected in each optical fiber, then reconstructing the acquired image by eliminating the pattern caused by the optical fiber. The method also includes a sampling process for obtaining, for each optical fiber and from a sampling image, a sample injection rate which can be used for reconstructing the acquired images. The method also includes a prior step which consists in detecting the fibers from a target.

Abstract: An optical head for equipping the distal end of a flexible optical fiber bundle, designed to be urged into contact with an analyzing surface and including optical elements for focusing an excitation signal into a so-called excitation focal point located at a specific depth beneath the analyzing surface and for sampling a signal backscattered by the excitation focal point which is carried back by the fiber bundle. The head includes an optics-holder tube wherein are inserted on one side the distal end portion of the fiber bundle and on the other optical elements, the latter including a plate placed in contact with the end of the fiber bundle whereof the index is close to that of the fiber core and a focusing optical block, an output window being further provided adapted to provide index adaptation so as to eliminate parasitic reflection occurring on the analyzing surface.