Apparatus and method for imaging
First Claim
1. An apparatus for imaging, comprising:
- a light source emitting a polarized light beam;
an optical assembly including a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein (a) the bottom surface includes first and second grating portions positioned such that the light beam passes through the first grating portion, reflects at the top surface to provide an evanescent field adjacent the top surface, and exits the optical assembly through the second grating portion, and (b) the optical assembly accommodates positioning a specimen array within the evanescent field, such that the specimen array causes spatially distributed polarization changes in the cross-section of the light beam; and
a two-dimensional array detector positioned to detect the spatially distributed polarization changes in the light beam to provide an image of the specimen array.
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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.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for imaging, comprising:
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a light source emitting a polarized light beam;
an optical assembly including a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein (a) the bottom surface includes first and second grating portions positioned such that the light beam passes through the first grating portion, reflects at the top surface to provide an evanescent field adjacent the top surface, and exits the optical assembly through the second grating portion, and (b) the optical assembly accommodates positioning a specimen array within the evanescent field, such that the specimen array causes spatially distributed polarization changes in the cross-section of the light beam; and
a two-dimensional array detector positioned to detect the spatially distributed polarization changes in the light beam to provide an image of the specimen array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 33)
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15. An apparatus for imaging, comprising
a light source emitting a polarized light beam; -
an optical assembly including a reflective surface adapted to allow placing thereon a specimen array and a surface having grating portions, the optical assembly being placed to cause the light beam to pass through a first grating portion to direct the light beam to the reflective surface where the light beam is reflected, the specimen array being within an evanescent field associated with the reflection at the reflective surface, and the light beam after said reflection passing through a second grating portion; and
a polarization-sensitive imaging detector, said detector detecting the light beam reflected from the reflective surface including the spatially distributed polarization changes caused by the specimen array. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
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an optical portion defined by an optical member or assembly of members;
a first grating portion at a surface of the optical portion through which a light beam is directed into the optical portion, the first grating portion being configured to direct the light beam through the optical portion to a reflective surface thereby providing an evanescent field, such that, when a specimen array is placed within the evanescent field, spatially distributed polarization changes in the cross-section of the light beam result;
a second grating portion at a surface of the optical portion, the second grating portion being configured for the light beam to exit the optical portion through the second grating portion; and
a two-dimensional array detector, said detector resolving the light beam to provide an image based on the spatially distributed polarization changes. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. An imaging apparatus, comprising:
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a light source assembly for directing a polarized light beam having a first coherent length at a reflective surface in a manner to generate an evanescent field at said reflective surface, such that when a specimen array is placed within the evanescent field, spatially distributed polarization changes in the cross-section of the light beam result;
an optical assembly having a bottom surface spaced apart from said reflective surface a distance smaller than said first coherent length, said bottom surface including first and second grating portions, said grating portions being located and configured to direct light from said source to said reflective surface through the first grating portion and to direct light reflected from said reflective surface through said second grating portion; and
a two-dimensional array detector, said detector resolving the light beam to provide an image based on the spatially distributed polarization changes. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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27. The apparatus of claim wherein said first and second gratings comprise Bragg gratings.
Specification