| abstract |
Fluorescence imaging system includes objective (21) which is achromatic and has an external entrance pupil (29), serves as a condenser for the system, and positioned above sample (23) in close proximity to one another. Laser (18) directs collimated light (19) to scan device (20) located at entrance pupil (29). Scan device (20) reflects, refracts, or diffracts light through objective (21) to illuminate a spot (22) on the sample's surface, and illuminates a line or an area on the sample surface by varying the angle of laser light into objective (21). Sample (23) emits fluorescent light (24) in response to the illumination. The fluorescent light (24) is collected by objective (21) and passes through the system along the path of the illumination light. Wavelength-discriminating dichroic filter (25), placed along the optical axis between laser (18) and objective (21), directs fluorescent light (24) onto photodetector (26) to produce a signal representing the sample surface emitting the fluorescent light. Display (37) displays the digitized data in a raster format. |