Confocal microscopy is an optical sectioning technique which removes out-of-focus light by using a pinhole in the emission light path. This creates an image with improved contrast and therefore ability to resolve finer detail. By acquring a series of optical sections through a specimen it is possible to create a three dimensional model of the sample.
Wide-field fluorescence is the most straightforward method of fluorescence microscopy. Typically, excitation light is directed through the objective lens (episcopic illumination) with the same lens used to capture the emitted fluorescence light which is then detected by eye or with a camera.
Super resolution imaging (sometimes called optical nanoscopy) is a term covering a variety of light microscopy techniques that enable imaging below the diffraction limit.
High content imaging (HCI) is essentially a three-step process: automated image acquisition, automated image processing and data analysis.
Multi-photon microscopy exploits a phenomenon where fluorophores simultaneously absorb multiple photons of light to provide the energy required for an excited state.
Laser micro-dissection/laser capture is a tool that allows isolation of selected regions from tissue sections and selected cells from a culture e.g. for downstream biochemical analysis.