Compact design
The new microscope should appeal to "important, possibly niche, markets since the device will be capable of getting into small places without the need for optics," said Rob Webb of Wellman Laboratories at Massachusetts General Hospital, a co-inventor of the device and founder of confocal laser scanning microscopy. "This is a very great example of how the SBIR [Small Business Innovation Research] system works. This work isn't in the academic purview. The SBIR program enables you to take on risky things."
Konan Inc., a Japanese company that produces instruments for ophthalmology, is interested in licensing the new technology. "The problem with existing confocal instruments is the tremendous cost," said Susan Oak, a representative for Konan. "Hang's device would be well below the $50,000 to $100,000 price tag for a confocal instrument for ophthalmological applications."
The instrument also uses infrared light, which reduces problems associated with stray light. Another factor for manufacturers is the design's reliance on a bi-lens, eliminating sophisticated alignment mechanisms.
Although a commercial device is still two years away, applications may include verification of retinal signature, drug development, cancer detection, environmental monitoring and process control.