Abstract: An endoscope includes a light source operable to generate coherent incident light, and a plurality of imaging optical fibers that are arranged in a fiber bundle, arranged to receive light at a proximal end of the fiber bundle, and arranged to transmit light to a distal end of the fiber bundle. The endoscope further includes a spatial light phase modulator between the light source and the fiber bundle, and arranged to receive the incident light from the light source and to adjust the relative phase of the incident light entering each of the plurality of imaging optical fibers.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprising: A spatial light modulator (30) operable to receive incident light (34) representing an incident light image and to intensity modulate said incident light to form spatially modulated (38) light; and an image capture device (42) operable to receive said spatially modulated light and to detect an intensity value for different portions of said spatially modulated light to form a modulated light image therefrom; wherein said spatial light modulator attenuates different parts of said incident light by different proportions such that intensity values of said incident light image are given by a combination of intensity values of said modulated light image captured by said image capture device and data representing proportions of attenuation applied to corresponding parts of said incident light image by said spatial light modulator.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a light source operable to generate coherent incident light, and a plurality of imaging optical fibres that are arranged in a fibre bundle, arranged to receive light at a proximal end of the fibre bundle, and arranged to transmit light to a distal end of the fibre bundle. The endoscope further includes a spatial light phase modulator between the light source and the fibre bundle, and arranged to receive the incident light from the light source and to adjust the relative phase of the incident light entering each of the plurality of imaging optical fibres.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method of analysing and obtaining reliable data about the plasma membrane of single cells, using a microfluidic cell analyser. The microfluidic cell analyser of the invention comprises a single cell trap, a manipulator arranged to manipulate the outer surface of a cell in the trap, a detection zone in communication with the single cell trap and a detector.

Abstract: A confocal microscope 2 uses as a light source a two-dimensional array of light emitting diodes 4. A two-dimensional array of detector cells 18 in the form of a CCD camera array or a CMOS camera array is provided. A sequence of illumination patterns are generated by the array of light emitting diodes 4. A corresponding sequence of detection patterns are read from the two-dimensional array of detector cells 18. The light emitting diodes may be A1GaInN light emitting diodes generating light in the wavelength 250 nm to 500 nm. The confocal microscope 2 may be fitted to the tip of an endoscope 30.

Abstract: A method of stereo microscopy involves using an apparatus including a microscope (2), a sample holder (4) located in the vicinity of the focal point of the microscope, drive means (18) for providing relative movement between the sample holder and the focal point, an image gathering device (10) arranged to collect microscopic images of objects at the focal point of the microscope, an image processing device (20) and a display device (22). First and second microscopic images of an object in the sample holder are gathered by the image gathering device (10) by means of first and second sequential exposures, relative movement between the sample holder and the focal point being provided in first and second directions during said first and second exposures respectively.

Abstract: The confocal microscope has two matched light sources: a first light source (1) and a second light source (8). The light sources (1,8) are arranged to illuminate opposite sides of a modulating mask (6). The light either reflecting from or passing through the modulating mask (6) is then used to illuminate an object O supported on a mount (5). The microscope is arranged so that the object O is mounted on the opposite side of the mask (6) to a camera (7) such that light reflected from the object O passes through the modulating mask (6) before being captured by the camera (7). Subtraction of the image produced using the second light source (8) from the image produced using the first light source (1) generates a confocal image that contains substantially less noise than is possible with available confocal microscopy apparatus.

Abstract: The wavefront sensing device consists of a light source, a binary phase mask (10), a fixed focus lens (11) and at least two finite sized spatially separated detectors (12) positioned in the plane of focus of the wavefront sensing device. The binary phase mask (10) simultaneously applies a positive bias and a negative bias to the wavefront of the incident light such that a pair of spatially separated light points are generated in the plane of focus and detected by the detectors (12). The difference in intensity between the pair of light points is representative of the aberration of the wavefront of the incident light from the ideal.

Abstract: The confocal imaging apparatus includes first and second light sources (6, 7) located at opposite ends of a fibre optic bundle (1). One end of the fibre optic bundle (4) is located adjacent the object to be imaged the opposite end of the fibre optic bundle (2) is located adjacent a camera (3) that records the images received from the fibre optic bundle (4). An analyser (10) is used to extract a confocal image from the image of the object produced using the illumination from the first light source (6) and the image of the object produced using illumination from the second light source (7). The imaging apparatus is particularly suited to endoscopy applications and is able to provide video rate confocal images.

Abstract: An object is illuminated by a light source, and a periodic pattern of transparent and non-transparent stripes is superimposed onto the object. At least three images are recorded at different spatial phases of the pattern by means of a microscope of shallow focal depth, and a three-dimensional image containing only in-focus detail is then derived from the recorded images.

Abstract: A confocal microscope comprises a light source, a focusing arrangement, a detector and an encoded mask (17). The light source illuminates the mast (17) and the encoded light is then focused on a specimen. Light from the specimen is then decoded, by either the same or a separate complementary mask, before being detected, for example by a camera. The mask (17) is encoded with a pattern which generates a combined confocal and non-confocal image and the confocal image is subsequently extracted from the combined image. This means that confocal images of different regions of the specimen can be produced simultaneously, which in turn enables real-time confocal imaging of the specimen. In addition, as the microscope is no longer restricted to delta correlated images, an improvement in the light budget can also be achieved.