Commercialization of the Adaptive Scanning Optical Microscope (ASOM)

Traditionally restricted to one-of-a-kind research or demonstration testbeds, adaptive optics technologies are now maturing to a point where they can be considered for inclusion in certain high performance commercial instrumentation. Indeed, Thorlabs, Inc. is bringing to market the Adaptive Scanning Optical Microscope (ASOM), which uses a MEMS deformable mirror as an enabling technology to achieve a greatly expanded field of view in microscopy. First, this paper explains the process of technology transfer of the ASOM technology from the university laboratory to an expert optics and instrumentation company. Next, design features of the ASOM product are described that facilitate a compact design and demonstrations of an ASOM prototype are presented.