The use of charge-coupled devices (CCD) for quantitative
microscopy has advantages over standard video detectors. For
quantitative imaging in the life sciences the use of CCDs have the
following advantages: it is a quantitative photodetector, with a
large dynamic range and high quantum efficiency. The advantage of a
large dynamic range of the order 16,000:1 (14-bits) is important in
confoca]. microscopy where there are regions of extremely low light
intensity and regions with high intensity. The linear factor of the
dynamic range is important for quantitation of the images. Another
important property for biological imaging is sensitivity. The use of
back- illuminated, UV enhanced coatings, thinned CCD devices, with
anti-reflection coatings all result in higher quantum efficiencies.
Slow scan devices can be used in a special mode to capture an image
in less than a video frame, however, they are most useful as linear
integrating light detectors. In order to demonstrate some of the
useful properties of CCD detectors, we have used a CCD detection
system to image low light level signals from living transparent
biological material. A CCD camera was coupled to a confoca].
microscope and images were collected in reflected light. The samples
included the cornea, and the in situ ocular lens. The quality of
the images is demonstrated over a wide range of light levels. The
images of the eye at submicron resolution clearly demonstrate the
advantages of using a solid state charge-coupled device detector for
quantitative confocal reflected light microscopy of thick,
transparent ocular tissue.
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