US 12,135,412 B2
Non-linear optical scanning microscope having kinematic flexure mechanism
Craig James Hamilton, Ralston Paisley (GB); and Gordon Robertson, Larkhall (GB)
Assigned to PXYL LIMITED, Glasgow (GB)
Appl. No. 17/041,387
Filed by PXYL Limited, Glasgow (GB)
PCT Filed Mar. 26, 2019, PCT No. PCT/GB2019/050861
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 24, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/186142, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 3, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1804951 (GB), filed on Mar. 27, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0116693 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01N 21/65 (2006.01); G02B 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 21/0076 (2013.01) [G01N 21/6458 (2013.01); G02B 21/0048 (2013.01); G01N 2021/653 (2013.01); G01N 2201/10 (2013.01); G02B 21/0032 (2013.01); G02B 21/0036 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A non-linear optical scanning microscope for inducing non-linear optical emission in a sample using a pulsed laser illumination system operable to provide excitation radiation, the microscope comprising:
an aspheric objective configured to focus the excitation radiation, such that the illumination system and the objective are operable together to provide the excitation radiation in a focal volume at sufficient intensity to cause non-linear emission of emission radiation from the sample in the focal volume; and
an objective scanner operable to scan the objective linearly in each of two dimensions transverse to the objective's optical axis corresponding to x and y directions, so as to scan the objective in a plane perpendicular to the objective's optical axis and to scan the emitting focal volume in corresponding dimensions in a sample plane,
wherein the objective scanner comprises a kinematic flexure mechanism and an x-y transducer connected to the kinematic flexure mechanism which acts as a scanning lens mount.