Top hat illumination biological sample imaging devices, and methods of using the same
Top Hat illumination biological sample imaging devices are provided. Aspects of the imaging devices include: a laser illumination source configured to produce a collimated gaussian beam having a specific diameter; a beam converter configured to convert the collimated gaussian beam into a collimated, uniform irradiance over a region in space; a sample interrogation location in light receiving relationship with the beam converter; and a detector in light receiving relationship with a biological sample interrogation location. Also provided are methods of using the devices, e.g., in genome mapping and other applications.
1 . A biological sample imaging device, the device comprising:
a laser illumination source configured to produce a collimated gaussian beam having a specific diameter;
a beam converter comprising a top hat converter configured to convert the collimated gaussian beam into a collimated, uniform irradiance over a region in space;
a telephoto group in light receiving relationship with the top hat converter;
a collimator in light receiving relationship with the telephoto group;
a sample interrogation location in light receiving relationship with the collimator; and
a detector in light receiving relationship with a biological sample interrogation location.
2 . The biological sample imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the top hat converter comprises an aspheric optic.
3 . The biological sample imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein the aspheric optic comprises a smooth aspheric surface.
4 . The biological sample imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the distance separating the beam converter and the sample interrogation location is 16 inches or less.
5 . The biological sample imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the telephoto group comprises a telephoto lens pair.
6 . The biological sample imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a beam expander positioned between the laser illumination source and the beam converter.
7 . The biological sample imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising an aperture between the region in space and the sample interrogation location.
8 . The biological sample imaging device according to claim 7 , wherein the aperture is a square or rectangular aperture.
9 . The biological sample imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the shape of the region in space is square, rectangular, circular or hexagonal.
10 . The biological sample imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a moveable support for the sample interrogation location.
11 . The biological sample imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a biological sample in the sample interrogation location.
12 . A method of imaging a biological sample, the method comprising:
(a) illuminating a biological sample located at sample interrogation location with an illumination component comprising:
(i) a laser illumination source configured to produce a collimated gaussian beam having a specific diameter;
(ii) a beam converter comprising a top hat converter configured to convert the collimated gaussian beam into a collimated, uniform irradiance over a region in space;
(iii) a telephoto group in light receiving relationship with the top hat converter; and
(iv) a collimator in light receiving relationship with the telephoto group; and
(b) detecting light from the sample interrogation region to image the biological sample.
13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the top hat converter comprises an aspheric optic.
14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the aspheric optic comprises a smooth aspheric surface.
15 . A biological sample imaging device, the device comprising:
a laser illumination source configured to produce a collimated gaussian beam having a specific diameter;
a beam converter comprising a top hat converter configured to convert the collimated gaussian beam into a collimated, uniform irradiance over a region in space;
a telephoto group in light receiving relationship with the top hat converter;
a sample interrogation location in light receiving relationship with the telephoto group; and
a detector in light receiving relationship with a biological sample interrogation location.