Prism design for scanning applications and illumination of microscopy sample
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A scanning apparatus comprising:
- —
a light source for generating a light beam; and
an angular prism coupled to a sample at a base interface;
characterised in that the base angle θ
p of the prism satisfies the equations;
—
and
ni sinθ
i=np sin (θ
p−
θ
c) wherein θ
c is the coupling angle required for light incident at base interface of the prism, θ
i is the incident angle of the light beam on the prism, ni is the refractive index of the medium at the interface where the light beam enters the prism and np is the refractive index of the prism.
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Abstract
There is disclosed a prism for use in scanning applications such as total internal reflection microscopy in which the prism is translated relative to an incident light beam. A geometry is disclosed which cancels walk of the beam footprint at the base of the prism. Walk of the beam footprint due to irregularities in a largely planar sample surface located at the prism base are cancelled by coupling movement of the incident light beam to movement of the sample in the field of view of an objective lens, for example as part of an autofocus arrangement.
28 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A scanning apparatus comprising:
- —
a light source for generating a light beam; and
an angular prism coupled to a sample at a base interface;
characterised in that the base angle θ
p of the prism satisfies the equations;
—and
ni sinθ
i=np sin (θ
p−
θ
c)wherein θ
c is the coupling angle required for light incident at base interface of the prism, θ
i is the incident angle of the light beam on the prism, ni is the refractive index of the medium at the interface where the light beam enters the prism and np is the refractive index of the prism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A scanning method comprising the steps of:
- —
generating a light beam;
providing an angular prism in the path of the light beam, the prism being coupled to a sample at a base interface; and
moving the prism and sample relative to the light beam;
characterised in that the base angle θ
p of the prism satisfies the equations;
—and
nisinθ
i=npsin (θ
p−
θ
c)wherein θ
c is the coupling angle required for light incident at the interface at the base interface of the prism, θ
i is the incident angle of the light beam on the prism, ni is the refractive index of the medium at the interface where the light beam enters the prism and np is the refractive index of the prism. - View Dependent Claims (6)
- —
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7. Apparatus for imaging a sample, comprising:
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an objective lens having a focal plane and an optical axis, the lens being arranged to collect light from a region of interest defined relative to said optical axis;
an illumination director controllable to direct a beam of light along an optical path so as to illuminate the sample in the region of interest at an angle oblique to said optical axis; and
an illumination director controller arranged to control the illumination director relative to the sample such that the optical path remains directed to the sample in the region of interest following replacement of the sample, or movement of the sample relative to the objective lens. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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- 27. A method of automatically correcting the illumination footprint of the optical path of a light beam onto a microscopy sample surface, comprising the step of adjusting the optical path synchronously with changes in the position of the sample surface or the position of an element which moves synchronously with the sample surface.
Specification