Microscope, Confocal

Confocal microscope is a powerful tool of choice for researchers interested in study of cell structure and function. The advantages of confocal microscope include increased resolution, higher contrast, and greater depth of field. Together these features increase our understanding of the cell's three-dimensional (3D) structure as well as its physiology and motility. In the confocal microscope all out-of-focus structures are suppressed at image formation. The computer is used to control the microscope's scanner mirrors and motorized focussing mechanism as well as collect, store, and analyse the data. The following are the four types of confocal microscopes that are commercially available: confocal laser scanning microscopes; spinning-disc confocal microscopes; dual spinning disc confocal microscopes; and programmable array microscopes. Some important applications of a confocal system include acquisition of high-quality fluorescence images of a single optical slice, acquisition of images from thick sections requiring severe background suppression, and reconstruction of 3D images.