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 provides an apparatus and corresponding method for optical microscopy imaging that uses a sensor structure with an array of photosensitive elements and a sample surface arranged to receive a sample. Electronics process electrical signals from the array of photosensitive elements to derive an image representing the sample and to use the image to identify features of components within the sample. A coating is arranged between the array of photosensitive elements and the sample surface to aid light collection by the photosensitive elements.

The array of photosensitive elements, the sample surface, and the coating are positioned so that, when the sample is situated on the sample surface, light from point sources of emission or scattering by at least part of the sample are predominantly incident on respective photosensitive elements directly below each point source. This supports deriving the image from signals collected directly by the photosensitive elements rather than relying on conventional image formation.

In additional refinements, the coating and/or its thickness positions the sample surface at a constrained distance relative to the array of photosensitive elements. The constraints include positioning the sample surface within half a pixel width of the array by selecting the coating thickness, and positioning the sample surface within a distance less than five times an average wavelength of light produced by a light source. The disclosed coating types include dielectric coatings and dielectric coatings configured to protect the array of photosensitive elements from physical damage.

Claims Coverage

The document includes three independent claims covering an apparatus, a method, and an apparatus with a dielectric protective coating. Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on a sensor structure with an array of photosensitive elements, an intervening coating to aid light collection or protection, and an arrangement such that light from point sources in or by the sample is predominantly incident on photosensitive elements directly below each point source.

The claim set covers apparatus and methods for microscopy imaging using a photosensitive pixel array and a coating positioned between the sample and the array to aid light collection, with a spatial arrangement requirement that point-source emission or scattering light is predominantly incident on photosensitive elements directly below. Dependent refinements include dielectric protective coatings and quantitative distance constraints tied to pixel width and to less than five times an average wavelength of illumination light.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications