Fluorescence imaging system compatible with macro and micro scanning objectives
US5646411A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/6463
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A coaxial illumination and collection laser scanning system provides substantially uniform detection sensitivity across the field of view of an objective lens by reducing lateral chromatic aberrations at the expense of amplifying axial chromatic aberrations. Axial chromatic aberrations in the system are removed in the path of a retro-beam. A laser is in optical communication with the objective lens. The laser produces a collimated beam of coherent light that is directed by a scanner through the objective lens to illuminate a raster of spots on the sample's surface, thereby stimulating a series of small regions of the sample to emit light. The system may be used as a confocal or non-confocal imaging system. Alternatively, the system may be employed for reflection imaging of the laser beam. In a second embodiment, a plurality of lasers are provided, each of which emits a wavelength different from the remaining lasers. Each of the plurality of lasers are in optical communication with a common beam expander providing the incident beam with a plurality of wavelengths of light. The common beam expander has optical properties that introduce axial chromatic aberrations to cancel axial chro…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.