The Laser-Scanning Confocal Microscope in Biomedical Research

Abstract

The laser-scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) produces improved light microscope images of both fixed and living cells and tissues. Moreover, the serial optical-sectioning power of the LSCM has made three dimensional reconstruction of light microscope images a practical option. The different confocal microscopes that have resulted in the current generation of the LSCM and the applications of the LSCM for biomedical research are briefly reviewed: further details can be found elsewhere (1–3).Historical PerspectiveMarvin Minsky's Microscope. The confocal microscope was invented in 1955 by Marvin Minsky specifically for studying neural networks in the living brain (4, 5). All modern confocal microscopes are based on Minsky's original idea, which was patented in 1957. Basically, illumination and detection are confined to a single diffraction-limited point in the specimen. The point is scanned across the specimen and light from the specimen is built into an image of a precise optical section of the specimen. Th...