Design and use of a computer controlled confocal microscope for biological applications

In the confocal scanning light microscope where the object is scanned mechanically through a finely focused laser spot, a fundamentally higher resolution can be achieved when a point detector is employed. Such a microscope possesses in addition to a high dynamic range excellent sectioning capabilities, and is because of this very suitable for “3‐Dimensional imaging”, especially when operated in fluorescence. An instrument under computer control and with extensive image processing capabilities is described. Various biological applications are given including computer generated stereo images of biological structures with submicron resolution.