LASER SCANNING MICROSCOPE FOR SCANNING ALONG A 3D TRAJECTORY

摘要

The invention relates to a laser scanning microscope (10) having: focusing means (15) having a focal plane (29) and comprising at least one optical element for focusing a laser beam (13); drive means (18) for displacing the at least one optical element of the focusing means (15) for changing the position of the focal plane (29), and deflecting means (14) for deflecting the laser beam (13). The microscope comprises a control system (32) configured to carry out the steps of: providing a periodical drive signal for the drive means (18); obtaining time dependant displacement data of the at least one optical element of the focusing means (15) in response to the periodical drive signal of the drive means (18); providing a response function (z(t)) using the time dependant displacement data, calculating a drive signal for the deflecting means (14) using the response function (z(t)) to move the focal volume (30) of the laser beam (13) along a given 3D trajectory (48) within a sample to be examined. The invention further relates to a method for carrying out such a scanning operation along a 3D trajectory (48). ?