Other

Eberhard Unsold

Michael Kratzer

Ernst Remy

Apparatus for selective destruction or inactivation of cells is disclosed wherein cells are arrayed in a plane for successive illumination, by optical X-Y scanning devices, with a first low powered light beam to produce in particular cells certain radiations responsive to the illumination. These response radiations are detected and used to enable a second higher powered light beam directed through substantially the same optical scanning paths, to destroy or inactivate the cells producing the response radiations. The illumination, response, detection, and high power radiation steps are accomplished by devices acting in times short as compared to the X-Y scanning devices so as to make the accurate treatment of each of large numbers of cells highly effective. Alternate embodiments disclose the use of a single laser light source to selectively provide both the low and high powered light beams, various X-Y scanning arrangements, and various devices for correcting the spherical aberration of the scanned beams in variously positioned image planes.

Device for selective destruction of cells

Apparatus for selective destruction or inactivation of cells is disclosed wherein cells are arrayed in a plane for successive illumination, by optical X-Y scanning devices, with a first low power red light beam to produce in particular cells certain radiations responsive to the illumination. These response radiations are detected and used to enable a second higher powered light beam directed through substantially the same optical scanning paths, to destroy or inactivate the cells producing the response radiations. The illumination, response, detection, and high power radiation steps are accomplished by devices acting in times short as compared to the X-Y scanning devices so as to make the accurate treatment of each of large numbers of cells highly effective. Alternate embodiments disclose the use of a signal laser light source to selectively provide both the low and high powered light beams, various X-Y scanning arrangements, and various devices for correcting the spherical aberration of the scanned beams in variously positioned image planes.

A method of and an apparatus for adjusting the focal point of a working laser beam onto a microscopic target region of a transparent biological object to locate the focal point a spaced predetermined microscopic distance from an interface of the object is described. Separate working and auxiliary laser beams are produced which are then collinearly superimposed in parallel relationship, the auxiliary laser beam having a wavelength within the visible range and different from the wavelength of the working laser beam. The superimposed laser beams are focused jointly through the objective of a microscope onto the object. First variable focusing means placed in the path of one of the laser beams is controlled to produce a spacing between the focal spots equal to the predetermined distance. A further variable focusing means in the path of both the working and laser beams is controlled to jointly move the focal spots of both beams without varying the distance therebetween until the focal spot of the auxiliary laser beam appears on the interface of the object, whereby the working laser beam is focused the predetermined distance from the interface in the object.

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D-8042 Oberscheissheim, Germany

Eberhard Unsold