US5982534A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Specimen illumination apparatus with optical cavity for dark field illumination
Assignee: University of California
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Filing: 1997-06-18
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Granted: 1999-11-09
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Expires: 2017-06-18
Abstract
Abstract An illumination apparatus with a specimen slide holder, an illumination source, an optical cavity producing multiple reflection of illumination light to a specimen comprising a first and a second reflective surface arranged to achieve multiple reflections of light to a specimen is provided. The apparatus can further include additional reflective surfaces to achieve the optical cavity, a slide for mounting the specimen, a coverslip which is a reflective component of the optical cavity, one or more prisms for directing light within the optical cavity, antifading solutions for improving the viewing properties of the specimen, an array of materials for analysis, fluorescent components, curved reflective surfaces as components of the optical cavity, specimen detection apparatus, optical detection equipment, computers for analysis of optical images, a plane polarizer, fiberoptics, light transmission apertures, microscopic components, lenses for viewing the specimen, and upper and lower mirrors above and below the specimen slide as components of the optical cavity. Methods of using the apparatus are also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Pinkel
- 👤 Damir Sudar
- 👤 Donna Albertson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:04
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/06; G02B21/08; G02B21/10; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/6456; G01N21/6458; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/8806; G01N2021/8822; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B2006/12083; G02B2006/12114
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An illumination apparatus, comprising: a specimen slide holder for mounting a specimen slide, the slide holder having a specimen viewing region; an optical cavity defined by a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, the optical cavity being located adjacent the specimen slide holder and being further defined by a portion of the specimen viewing region; a light source for providing illumination light, wherein the light source is adjacent the optical cavity; and wherein the first and second reflective surfaces are arranged to produce multiple reflections of the illumination light within the optical cavity, thereby illuminating a portion of the specimen viewing region with multiple reflections of illumination light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An illumination apparatus, comprising: a specimen slide holder for mounting a specimen slide, the slide holder having a specimen viewing region; an optical cavity defined by a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, the optical cavity being located adjacent the specimen slide holder and being further defined by a portion of the specimen viewing region; a light source for providing illumination light, wherein the light source is adjacent the optical cavity; and wherein the first and second reflective surfaces are arranged to produce multiple reflections of the illumination light within the optical cavity, thereby illuminating a portion of the specimen viewing region with multiple reflections of illumination light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein illumination light is reflected from the first reflective surface by total internal reflection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a third reflective surface further defining the optical cavity and arranged to receive the reflected illumination light from the first reflective surface, and wherein the reflected illumination light is multipley reflected by the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface and the third reflective surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a slide mounted in the slide holder, the slide having a specimen side, a light receiving side, and a specimen positioned on the specimen receiving side of the specimen slide; and, a coverslip, comprising the first reflective surface, which coverslip covers a portion of the specimen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a prism positioned between the second reflective surface and the light receiving side of the specimen slide, the second reflective surface positioned to reflect the reflected illumination light through the prism, which prism directs the reflected illumination light through the light receiving side of the specimen slide and against the coverslip, which coverslip directs the reflected illumination light through the prism against the second reflective surface, which second reflective surface directs the reflected illumination light through the prism and against the coverslip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the prism is mounted on the light receiving side of the specimen slide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the prism is mounted on the light receiving side of specimen slide with an immersion oil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the prism and the second reflective surface are integral.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4, the apparatus further comprising a solution with an index of refraction greater than 1 on the specimen side of the specimen slide between the specimen side and the coverslip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the specimen slide and the coverslip are planar and wherein illumination light which is not reflected by the coverslip exits the coverslip at an angle close to a plane defined by the coverslip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the solution is a glycerol-based anti-fading solution with an index of refraction of about 1.5.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a specimen slide, wherein the specimen slide comprises a specimen selected from the group consisting of an array of biological polymers, a rare cell, and a fluorescent protein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the specimen is an array of biological polymers, and wherein the nucleic acid array and the specimen slide are integral.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a specimen in the form of an array of biological polymers, wherein the polymers are deposited onto a solid substrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a specimen in the form of an array of biological polymers, wherein the polymers are synthesized on the solid substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a specimen that comprises a fluorescent moiety.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a specimen that is viewed by light scattering.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second reflective surface is curved.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second reflective surface has a shape selected from the group consisting of spherical and parabolic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lens, which lens is mounted for collecting light from the specimen viewing region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a camera for obtaining an optical image of the specimen viewing region.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a camera for obtaining an optical image of the specimen, wherein the camera is a CCD camera and the apparatus further comprises a data collection device for monitoring the optical image of the specimen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the data collection device comprises a computer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the illumination light from the light source is plane polarized.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is an arc lamp, wherein the illumination light is transmitted to the optical cavity using a fiberoptic cable, which cable comprises an orifice in an end of the cable, which orifice is positioned in an aperture in a reflective surface of the apparatus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a specimen slide with a light reflecting side comprising the first reflective surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising: a coverslip covering a portion of the light reflecting side of the specimen slide; a specimen positioned on the specimen slide; a first prism mounted on the specimen slide for directing illumination light from the light source against the light reflecting specimen side of the specimen slide; the light reflecting specimen side of the specimen slide multiply reflecting a portion of the illumination light against the coverslip, which coverslip multiply reflects illumination light against the light reflecting side of the specimen side of the specimen slide, thereby illuminating the specimen with multiply reflected illumination light.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a specimen that is mounted on the light reflecting side of the specimen slide.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a second prism mounted on the specimen slide, which second prism directs multiply reflected illumination light against a first mirror, which mirror reflects the multiply reflected illumination light back through the second prism and against the light reflecting specimen side of the specimen slide, wherein the multiply reflected illumination light is reflected between the light reflecting specimen side of the specimen slide and the coverslip, thereby further illuminating the specimen.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a second mirror mounted to reflect multiply reflected illumination light from the first prism back through the first prism against the light reflecting specimen side of the specimen slide, where the multiply reflected illumination light is reflected between the light reflecting specimen side of the specimen slide and the coverslip, thereby further illuminating the specimen, which second mirror comprises a light transmission aperture which permits illumination light from the light source to pass through the aperture.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the specimen slide and the specimen are integral.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reflective slide comprising the first reflective surface mounted in the slide holder, a specimen located on the reflective slide, and a coverslip comprising the second reflective surface, which coverslip covers a portion of the specimen, wherein illumination light from the light source is multiply reflected between the coverslip and the reflective slide.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first lower mirror for reflecting illumination light, comprising the first reflective surface, which first lower mirror is located below the specimen slide holder, which first lower mirror is positioned to reflect multiple passes of illumination light to the specimen holder; and, a first upper mirror for reflecting illumination light, comprising the second reflective surface, which first upper mirror is located above the specimen slide holder, which first upper mirror is positioned to reflect multiple passes of illumination light to the specimen holder; wherein the illumination light from the light source is multiply reflected between the upper and lower mirrors to illuminate the specimen slide holder.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a second lower mirror and a second upper mirror which are positioned to further multiply reflect illumination light from the first upper mirror or first lower mirror to further illuminate the specimen.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-08 | 2003-05-10 | 2003-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-08 | 2007-05-10 | 2007-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-08 | 2011-05-10 | 2011-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |