Apparatus and method for imaging
First Claim
1. Imaging apparatus comprising an optical assembly, a light source assembly and an imaging detector, said assemblies being operative to provide an image at a TIR surface defined by said optical assembly, said light source assembly directing polarized light at said TIR surface in a manner to generate an evanescent field at said surface, said optical assembly having spaced-apart, top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface including first and second gratings, said gratings being located and configured to direct light passing through the first grating from said source to said top surface and light reflected from said top surface passing through to said second grating to said detector respectively to cause TIR and an evanescent field associated therewith by a single reflection at the TIR surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for acquiring an image of a specimen comprising a cassette having an optical portion holding a specimen array on a TIR surface and being removably matable to a processing portion having a polarized light beam source and a processing polarization-sensitive portion to image the spatially distributed charges in polarization of the specimen array. In one form the array optical portion comprises a transparent slide having a bottom surface with first and second gratings located to direct polarized light to the TIR surface and to direct light reflected by that (TIR) surface to an imager, respectively. The apparatus may include a flow cell integral with the optical portion as well as means for selecting the direction and wavelength of the polarized light.
25 Citations
47 Claims
- 1. Imaging apparatus comprising an optical assembly, a light source assembly and an imaging detector, said assemblies being operative to provide an image at a TIR surface defined by said optical assembly, said light source assembly directing polarized light at said TIR surface in a manner to generate an evanescent field at said surface, said optical assembly having spaced-apart, top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface including first and second gratings, said gratings being located and configured to direct light passing through the first grating from said source to said top surface and light reflected from said top surface passing through to said second grating to said detector respectively to cause TIR and an evanescent field associated therewith by a single reflection at the TIR surface.
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14. A cassette for use with a TIR analyzing instrument, said instrument comprising a processing assembly having a polarized light source portion providing a polarized light beam, a reflected light analyzing portion and a locating portion for locating the cassette for TIR imaging of a specimen array on an optical element of said cassette comprising;
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an optical element comprising an upper TIR surface on which a specimen array is formed, said optical element being configured to receive polarized light directed to the TIR surface and generating an evanescent field at the TIR surface;
a mount or frame coupled to the optical element and having a locating portion engageable with a mating locating element of the TIR instrument said mount or frame being operable to locate at least a selected portion of the specimen array in the evanescent field.
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20. An imaging apparatus for imaging a specimen array within the evanescent field present upon reflection of a beam of light at a TIR surface comprising;
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a polarized light source emitting a polarized extended beam of light;
an optical element having a TIR surface on which the specimen array is placed and a surface having grating portions, the optical element being placed to cause the beam of light to pass through a first grating portion to direct the light to the TIR surface for being reflected only a single time at the TIR surface, the specimen array being within the evanescent field associated with the total internal reflection at the TIR surface and the beam of light after said single reflection passing through a second grating portion, said gratings being configured to pass the beam of light through them to the TIR surface and from the TIR surface to enable TIR effect to occur; and
a polarization-sensitive, imaging detector, said detector detecting the beam of light reflected from the TIR surface including the spatially distributed polarization change caused by the specimen array. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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27. Apparatus of the type in which total internal reflection of a light beam occurs at a TIR surface in which an evanescent field is created, by passing a beam of light into an optical member or assembly of members defining an optical portion the improvement comprising;
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a first grating at a surface of the optical portion at which the light beam is directed into the optical portion the first grating being configured to direct the light beam through the optical portion to the TIR surface to cause total internal reflection at the TIR surface. a second grating at a surface of the optical portion the second grating being configured for the light beam to exit the optical portion through the second grating.
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- 32. Imaging apparatus comprising an optical assembly, a light source assembly and an imaging detector, said assemblies being operative to provide an image at a TIR surface defined by a top surface of said optical assembly, said light source assembly directing at said TIR surface polarized light having a first coherent length in a manner to generate an evanescent field at said TIR surface, said optical assembly having a bottom surface spaced apart from said top surface a distance smaller than said first coherent length said bottom surface including first and second gratings, said gratings being located and configured to direct light passing through the first grating from said source to said TIR surface and light reflected from said TIR surface passing through to said second grating to said detector respectively to cause TIR and an evanescent field associated therewith by a single reflection at the TIR surface.
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45. Imaging Apparatus comprising an optical assembly, a light source assembly and at least one imaging detector, said assemblies being operative to provide an image reflected from a TIR surface defined by a top surface of said optical assembly, said light source assembly being operative to direct at said TIR surface polarized light in a manner to generate an evanescent field at said TIR surface, said optical assembly having a bottom surface, said bottom surface including first and second spaced apart gratings, said grating being located and configured to direct light passing through said first grating from said source to said TIR surface and light reflected from said TIR surface to said second grating to said detector respectively, said optical assembly being configured to impose on said light reflected from said TIR surface a superposition of images therefrom to provide a single reflection therefrom.
Specification