SINGLE-LENS THETA-MICROSCOPY - A NEW IMPLEMENTATION OF CONFOCAL THETA-MICROSCOPY

A new microscopical technique based on the principle of confocal theta microscopy (Stelzer, E.H.K., Lindek, S. & Pick, R. (1996) Konfokales Mikroskop. German Patent Office DE 43 26 473 (filed 6.8.1993, granted 6.12.1996)) is described. It uses a single objective lens in combinati on with a mirror unit to achieve the theta configuration that leads to axial and volume resolution improvements. In this paper we present te chnical details of possible microscopical set-ups, and we discuss diff erent versions of mirror units.