Editing Confocal microscopy (section)

==Uses==

CLSM is widely used in various [[biological science]] disciplines, from [[cell biology]] and [[genetics]] to [[microbiology]] and [[developmental biology]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Juan Carlos Stockert, Alfonso Blázquez-Castro|chapter=Chapter 6 Fluorescence Instrumental and Techniques|pages=180–184|title=Fluorescence Microscopy in Life Sciences|chapter-url=https://ebooks.benthamscience.com/book/9781681085180/|access-date=24 December 2017|year=2017|publisher=Bentham Science Publishers|isbn=978-1-68108-519-7|archive-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514131504/https://ebooks.benthamscience.com/book/9781681085180/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is also used in quantum optics and nano-crystal imaging and spectroscopy.

===Biology and medicine===

[[File:STD Depth Coded Stack Slices through Cells.png|thumb|Example of a stack of confocal microscope images showing the distribution of actin filaments throughout a cell.]]
Clinically, CLSM is used in the evaluation of various eye diseases, and is particularly useful for imaging, qualitative analysis, and quantification of endothelial cells of the [[cornea]].<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Patel DV, McGhee CN |title=Contemporary in vivo confocal microscopy of the living human cornea using white light and laser scanning techniques: a major review |journal=Clin. Experiment. Ophthalmol. |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=71–88 |year=2007 |pmid=17300580 |doi=10.1111/j.1442-9071.2007.01423.x|s2cid=23029612 }}</ref> It is used for localizing and identifying the presence of filamentary fungal elements in the [[cornea]]l stroma in cases of [[fungal keratitis|keratomycosis]], enabling rapid diagnosis and thereby early institution of definitive therapy. Research into CLSM techniques for [[endoscopic]] procedures ([[endomicroscopy]]) is also showing promise.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Hoffman A, Goetz M, Vieth M, Galle PR, Neurath MF, Kiesslich R |title=Confocal laser endomicroscopy: technical status and current indications |journal=Endoscopy |volume=38 |issue=12 |pages=1275–83 |year=2006 |pmid=17163333 |doi=10.1055/s-2006-944813|s2cid=260134204 }}</ref> In the pharmaceutical industry, it was recommended to follow the manufacturing process of thin film pharmaceutical forms, to control the quality and uniformity of the drug distribution.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0255-2701(98)00032-4|title=Near infrared drying of pharmaceutical thin films: Experimental analysis of internal mass transport|year=1998|last1=Le Person|first1=S.|last2=Puiggali|first2=J.R.|last3=Baron|first3=M.|last4=Roques|first4=M.|journal=Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification|volume=37|issue=3|pages=257–263|bibcode=1998CEPPI..37..257L |url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01632801/file/Near-infrared-drying-of-pharmaceutical-thin-films-experimental-analysis-of-internal-mass-transport.pdf }}</ref> Confocal microscopy is also used to study [[biofilm]]s — complex porous structures that are the preferred habitat of microorganisms. Some of temporal and spatial function of biofilms can be understood only by studying their structure on micro- and meso-scales. The study of microscale is needed to detect the activity and organization of single microorganisms.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Gitis|first1=Vitaly|title=Handbook of Porous Materials|last2=Rothenberg|first2=Gadi|publisher=World Scientific|year=2020|isbn=978-981-122-322-8|editor-last=Gitis|editor-first=Vitaly|location=Singapore|pages=63–64|doi=10.1142/11909|editor-last2=Rothenberg|editor-first2=Gadi}}</ref>

===Optics and crystallography===

CLSM is used as the data retrieval mechanism in some [[3D optical data storage]] systems and has helped determine the age of the [[Magdalen papyrus]].

===Audio preservation===

The [[IRENE (technology)|IRENE]] system makes use of confocal microscopy for optical scanning and recovery of damaged historical audio.<ref>[http://exhibits.lib.berkeley.edu/spotlight/project-irene/feature/the-digitization-process The Digitization Process]. Project IRENE, [[University of California, Berkeley Libraries]].</ref>

=== Material's surface characterization ===
Laser scanning confocal microscopes are used in the characterization of the surface of microstructured materials, such as [[Silicon]] wafers used in [[solar cell]] production. During the first processing steps, wafers are [[Etching (microfabrication)|wet-chemically etch]] with acid or alkaline compounds, rendering a texture to their surface. Laser confocal microscopy is then used to observe the state of the resulting surface at the micrometer lever. Laser confocal microscopy can also be used to analyze the thickness and height of metallization fingers printed on top of solar cells.