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Miniaturization of Fluorescence Microscopes Using Fibre Optics
Author(s) -
Helmchen Fritjof
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1113/eph8702478
Subject(s) - microscope , miniaturization , confocal , microscopy , biomedical engineering , fluorescence microscope , optics , confocal microscopy , multiphoton fluorescence microscope , two photon excitation microscopy , fluorescence , materials science , nanotechnology , medicine , physics
In both medical research and diagnostics characterization of biological tissue on the cellular level relies on high‐resolution optical microscopy. In most cases, however, tissue is excised for microscopic investigation, in part because conventional microscopes are bulky instruments. Imaging of cells in the intact living organism has been difficult. Over the last decade several groups have developed miniature confocal microscopes that use fibre optics to deliver light to the specimen and to measure either reflected or excited fluorescence light. In addition, two‐photon excitation recently has been employed in a small portable ‘fibrescope’. A potential clinical application of these microscope probes is their endoscopic use for optical biopsy of inner organs or guidance of conventional biopsy. As a mobile research tool they may permit imaging of neuronal activity in the brain of awake, behaving animals. Here, we review technological approaches to build miniaturized fluorescence microscopes and discuss their potential applications.