Advantages of Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) over Conventional Optical Microscopy
(1) Images from a laser scanning confocal microscope are recorded in the form of electrical signals, allowing image processing using various analog and digital electronic techniques.
(2) By using a confocal system, the laser scanning confocal microscope effectively eliminates interference from out-of-focus light signals, improves resolution, significantly enhances the breadth and depth of the field of view, enables non-invasive optical sectioning, and achieves three-dimensional spatial positioning.
(3) Since the laser scanning confocal microscope can collect and record detection signals in real time, it has opened up a new approach in life sciences for observing living cell structures and biological changes of specific molecules and ions.
(4) In addition to its imaging capabilities, the laser scanning confocal microscope also offers image processing and cell biology functions. Image processing functions include optical sectioning, three-dimensional image reconstruction, cellular physical and biological measurement, fluorescence quantification and localization analysis, and real‑time quantitative determination of ions. Cell biology functions include sorting of adherent cells, laser cellular fiber surgery, optical trapping technology, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), and other techniques.
