The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 18, 2003
Filed:
May. 10, 2002
Michael J. Mandella, Cupertino, CA (US);
Mark H. Garrett, Morgan Hill, CA (US);
Gordon S. Kino, Stanford, CA (US);
Optical Biopsy Technologies, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a novel class of integrated angled-dual-axis confocal scanning endoscopes. An integrated angled-dual-axis confocal scanning endoscope according to the present invention advantageously exploits an angled-dual-axis confocal arrangement in a silicon micro-machined and fiber-coupled construction, rendering it enhanced resolution, faster scanning, higher sensitivity, highly integrated and scalable structure. An integrated angled-dual-axis confocal scanning endoscope thus constructed can be readily miniaturized for many applications, such as in vivo imaging of biological specimens. One or two illumination beams may be employed in an angled-dual-axis confocal scanning endoscope of the present invention, thereby providing an assortment of reflectance and fluorescence images. An angled-dual-axis confocal scanning endoscope of the present invention is further capable of providing various line and cross-sectional-surface scans with fast speed and high precision. As such, the angled-dual-axis confocal scanning endoscopes of the present invention provide advantages of high-speed and versatile scanning, larger dynamic range of detection, larger field of view and longer working distance, a compact and integrated construction, and versatile imaging capabilities. These novel devices are particularly suitable for biological and medical imaging applications.