Handheld line-scanned dual-axis confocal microscope with pistoned MEMS actuation for flat-field fluorescence imaging.

A handheld line-scanned dual-axis confocal (LS-DAC) microscope has been developed for high-speed (16 frames/s) fluorescence imaging of tissues with sub-nuclear resolution. This is the first miniature fluorescence LS-DAC system that has been fully packaged for handheld clinical use on patients. A novel micro-electro-mechanical system scanning mechanism, with synchronized tilting and pistoning, is used to achieve flat-field en face imaging. We show that this facilitates video mosaicking to generate images that sample an extended lateral field of view.