Microscopy imaging

Inventors

Fine, Alan Marc • Gregson, Peter Hodges

Assignees

Alentic Microscience Inc

Abstract

Among other things, an imaging device has a photosensitive array of pixels, and a surface associated with the array is configured to receive a specimen with at least a part of the specimen at a distance from the surface equivalent to less than about half of an average width of the pixels.

Core Innovation

The invention describes an apparatus for near-field contact or near-field microscopy that uses an imaging device with a sensor structure including an array of photosensitive elements. A sample surface is arranged to receive a sample at least a portion of which is within a near field distance of the photosensitive elements. Electronics process light-based signals from the photosensitive elements to derive an image representing the components of the sample and to use the image to identify features of the components of the sample.

The sensor structure further includes a mechanism located between the array of photosensitive elements and the sample surface, configured to enhance the use of the image to identify features of the components of the sample. In described embodiments, this mechanism is implemented as a coating exposed at the sample surface with affinity molecules for particular components, or as a coating with optical functions such as spectral conversion and/or wavelength filtering to match the sensitivity of the photosensitive elements.

The disclosure provides technical rationale for achieving resolution beyond diffraction-limited optical microscopes by using a pixel-limited, near-field criterion, where the specimen is positioned within less than about half a pixel width of the photosensitive elements. The imaging behavior is supported by modeling of near-field spread/blur and Fresnel reflections, and the document illustrates example imaging of multiple specimens to demonstrate imaging and feature identification at very close distances.

Claims Coverage

The document includes two independent claims, apparatus and method, centered on near-field positioning of a sample relative to a photosensitive pixel array, image derivation from light-based signals, and enhancement of feature identification by a mechanism located between the photosensitive elements and the sample surface. The independent claims share a common core of inventive subject matter: near-field sensor geometry, electronics for component-imaging and feature identification, and an interposed enhancement mechanism.

Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage focuses on a near-field geometry between a photosensitive pixel array and a sample, electronics that generate an image of sample components for feature identification, and an interposed mechanism between the photosensitive elements and the sample surface that enhances feature identification.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications