A versatile intravital microscope design.

A new intravital microscope system with a versatile arrangement of optical elements and different photosensitive detection devices is described. The image formed by the microscope modified for telescopic imaging is transferred to an optical platform. Through an arrangement of beam splitters and mirrors, the image can be projected simultaneously into three of four different recording systems, including video- and photocameras and a velocity measuring system. In contrast to earlier approaches, the presented system simultaneously generates images on several devices. These images have the same orientation and field of view as that seen through the oculars. This allows the parallel application of different measuring techniques to a given area of the microcirculation.