Method and apparatus for imaging a sample on a device
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for imaging a sample located on a support, said apparatus comprising:
- a body for immobilizing said support, said support comprising at least a first surface having said sample thereon;
an electromagnetic radiation source for generating excitation radiation having a first wavelength;
excitation optics for transforming a geometry of said excitation radiation to an excitation line, said excitation line having a focal plane, and directing said excitation line at said sample for exciting a plurality of regions thereon, said excitation line causing a labeled material on said sample to emit a response radiation, said response radiation having a second wavelength, said first wavelength being different from said second wavelength;
collection optics for collecting said response radiation from said plurality of regions;
a detector for sensing said response radiation received by said collection optics, said detector generating a signal proportional to the amount of radiation sensed thereon, said signal representing an image associated with said plurality of regions from said sample;
a translator for allowing a subsequent plurality of regions on said sample to be excited;
a processor for processing and storing said signal so as to generate a 2-dimensional image of said sample;
a mirror for directing said excitation radiation to excite said plurality of regions at a non-zero incident angle such that said response radiation and said excitation line reflected from said support are decoupled from each other; and
a focuser for automatically focusing said sample in said focal plane of said excitation line, said focuser comprising first focusing optics for receiving said reflected excitation line and focusing said reflected excitation line to a first spot, a first slit located such that said first spot traverses said first slit when said translator moves said support in a direction relative to said excitation line, said first spot located at substantially a center of said first slit when said support is substantially in said focal plane, and a first radiation detector located behind said first slit for generating a signal proportional to an amount of radiation detected, said amount of radiation being greatest when said support is located in said focal plane.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and systems for detecting a labeled marker on a sample located on a support. The imaging system comprises a body for immobilizing the support, an excitation radiation source and excitation optics to generate and direct the excitation radiation at the sample. In response, labeled material on the sample emits radiation which has a wavelength that is different from the excitation wavelength, which radiation is collected by collection optics and imaged onto a detector which generates an image of the sample.
909 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for imaging a sample located on a support, said apparatus comprising:
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a body for immobilizing said support, said support comprising at least a first surface having said sample thereon; an electromagnetic radiation source for generating excitation radiation having a first wavelength; excitation optics for transforming a geometry of said excitation radiation to an excitation line, said excitation line having a focal plane, and directing said excitation line at said sample for exciting a plurality of regions thereon, said excitation line causing a labeled material on said sample to emit a response radiation, said response radiation having a second wavelength, said first wavelength being different from said second wavelength; collection optics for collecting said response radiation from said plurality of regions; a detector for sensing said response radiation received by said collection optics, said detector generating a signal proportional to the amount of radiation sensed thereon, said signal representing an image associated with said plurality of regions from said sample; a translator for allowing a subsequent plurality of regions on said sample to be excited; a processor for processing and storing said signal so as to generate a 2-dimensional image of said sample; a mirror for directing said excitation radiation to excite said plurality of regions at a non-zero incident angle such that said response radiation and said excitation line reflected from said support are decoupled from each other; and a focuser for automatically focusing said sample in said focal plane of said excitation line, said focuser comprising first focusing optics for receiving said reflected excitation line and focusing said reflected excitation line to a first spot, a first slit located such that said first spot traverses said first slit when said translator moves said support in a direction relative to said excitation line, said first spot located at substantially a center of said first slit when said support is substantially in said focal plane, and a first radiation detector located behind said first slit for generating a signal proportional to an amount of radiation detected, said amount of radiation being greatest when said support is located in said focal plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of imaging a sample on a support, said method comprising the steps of:
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immobilizing said support on a body; exciting said sample on said support with an excitation radiation having a first wavelength from an electromagnetic radiation source, said excitation radiation having a focal plane and a linear geometry for exciting a plurality of region on said sample; detecting a response radiation having a second wavelength in response to said excitation radiation, said response radiation representing an image of said plurality of regions; exciting a subsequent plurality of regions on said sample; processing and storing said response radiation to generate a 2-dimensional image of said sample; and auto-focusing said sample in said focal plane of said excitation radiation, said step of autofocusing comprising the steps of focusing a first surface of said support, coarse focusing on a second surface said support and finely focusing said second surface, wherein said step of focusing said first surface comprises the steps of directing said excitation radiation at said first surface of said support, said excitation radiation being reflected by said support, focusing said reflected excitation radiation through a slit, detecting an amount of reflected excitation radiation passing through said slit, said slit configured such that said reflected excitation radiation is located substantially at a center of said slit when said first surface is located in substantially the focal plane of said excitation radiation, determining if said amount of reflected excitation radiation passing through said slit has peaked, moving said support closer relative to said electromagnetic radiation source and repeating the directing, focusing, detecting, determining, and moving steps until said amount of reflected excitation radiation passing through said slit has peaked. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification