The design for a confocal beam-scanning microscope with a unique optical co
nfiguration for the rapid acquisition of spectrally resolved images is pres
ented. The novel aspect of the optical configuration is the location of the
detection device, which is placed in an intermediate position between full
y descanned detection and nondescanned detection (direct projection). This
placement allows for the practical implementation of spectrally resolved co
nfocal imaging. The device is demonstrated by the spectral resolution of a
sample of fluorescently labeled microbeads. (C) 1999 American Institute of
Physics. [S0034-6748(99)03308-0].