US6337472B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light imaging microscope having spatially resolved images
Assignee: The University of Texas System
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Filing: 1998-10-19
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Granted: 2002-01-08
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Expires: 2018-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A filter-less imaging microscope and method for analyzing samples on a slide at multiple wavelengths of light comprising, a microscope ( 12 ), a light dispersive element ( 28 ) positioned to receive images from the microscope ( 12 ) at multiple wavelengths, the light dispersive element ( 28 ) producing an array of light from the image and a camera ( 30 ) positioned to detect the light array produced by the light dispersive element ( 28 ), wherein the camera ( 30 ) detects the light array dispersed by the light dispersive element ( 28 ) at multiple wavelengths, is disclosed. The camera ( 30 ) can detect the entire spectrum of light produced by the light dispersive element ( 28 ).
Inventors
- 👤 Harold R. Garner
- 👤 Roger A. Schultz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:16
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B21/00; G02B21/0004; G02B21/0012; G02B21/36; G02B21/365
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
An imaging microscope comprising: a microscope; a light dispersive element positioned to receive spatially resolved images in two or more dimensions from the microscope at multiple wavelengths, the light dispersive element producing a spectral image from the images received from the microscope; and a camera positioned to detect the spectral image produced by the light dispersive element at multiple wavelengths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
An imaging microscope comprising: a microscope; a light dispersive element positioned to receive spatially resolved images in two or more dimensions from the microscope at multiple wavelengths, the light dispersive element producing a spectral image from the images received from the microscope; and a camera positioned to detect the spectral image produced by the light dispersive element at multiple wavelengths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The microscope of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one external light source; and a light line generator positioned to form a light line that interacts with samples disposed on said microscope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The microscope of claim 2 , wherein said light source comprises an argon laser, or a diode-pumped solid state laser, or a pulsed nitrogen dye laser, or a helium-neon laser or a combination thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The microscope of claim 2 , wherein said light source comprises a broadband ultraviolet/visible lamp, or a mercury lamp, or a xenon lamp or a combination thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The microscope of claim 1 , further comprising an astigmatism corrector between said microscope and said light dispersive element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The microscope of claim 1 , wherein said light dispersive element comprises an imaging spectrograph.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The microscope of claim 1 , wherein said camera is further defined as a charge-coupled device camera.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The microscope of claim 2 , wherein said light source is further defined as producing a continiuum of light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The microscope of claim 8 , wherein said continiuum of light is produced by light sources is an argon laser, or a diode-pumped solid state laser, or a helium-neon laser, or a pulsed nitrogen dye laser, or a broadband ultraviolet lamp, or a mercury lamp, or a zenon lamp, or a combination thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The microscope of claim 2 , wherein said light line is further defined as comprising light produced by at least one laser or one lamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The microscope of claim 2 , wherein said light source is selected to excite the fluorochrome that is used to stain samples on said slide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The microscope of claim 1 , further comprising: a microchannel plate light amplifier positioned between said light dispersive element and said camera.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The microscope of claim 1 , further comprising a data acquisition system connected to said camera, wherein said data acquisition system stores and correlates results based on the input acquired from said camera.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The microscope of claim 1 , wherein said camera detects a change in the absorbance of light following the interaction of light with a sample on a slide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The microscope of claim 1 , wherein said camera detects the reflection of light following the interaction of light with a sample on a slide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The microscope of claim 1 , wherein said camera detects a sample within a flow cell.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for viewing samples comprising: one or more light source; a microscope positioned to receive spatially resolved light images in two or more dimensions from the one or more light sources; a light dispersive element positioned to split light emitted from the microscope into a light array; a CCD camera positioned to detect the light array, the CCD camera producing an output; and a data acquisition system connected to the CCD camera, the data acquisition system capable of storing and correlating results based on the output from the CCD camera.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for viewing samples comprising: one or more light source; a microscope positioned to receive spatially resolved light images in two or more dimensions from the one or more light sources; a light dispersive element positioned to split light emitted from the microscope into a light array; a CCD camera positioned to detect the light array, the CCD camera producing an output; and a data acquisition system connected to the CCD camera, the data acquisition system capable of storing and correlating results based on the output from the CCD camera.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a light line generator positioned between said at least one light source and said microscope to form a light line that interacts with samples disposed on said microscope.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said light source comprises an argon laser, or a diode-pumped solid state laser, or a pulsed nitrogen dye laser, or a helium-neon laser, or a broadband ultraviolet lamp, or a mercury lamp, or a xenon lamp or a combination thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a cuvette holder, wherein light from said light source interacts with a sample in a cuvette within said cuvette holder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a flow cell, wherein light from said light source interacts with a sample within said flow cell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said light dispersive element is an imaging spectrograph.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising an astigmatism correcting lens between said microscope and said light dispersive element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said microscope is further defined as a linear motion drive slide mount.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said light source is further defined as producing a continiuum of light.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein said continiuum of light is produced by light sources is an argon laser, or a diode-pumped solid state laser, or a pulsed nitrogen dye laser, or a helium-neon laser, or a broadband ultraviolet lamp, or a mercury lamp, or a zenon lamp, or a combination thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said light line is further defined as an external light source comprising at least one laser and at least one lamp.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said samples on said microscope are stained and said light source is selected to excite the fluorochrome that is used to stain said samples.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said microscope is an epi-fluorescence microscope.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said microscope is an inverted microscope.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a light amplifier disposed between said light dispersive element and said CCD camera.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of scanning a sample on a slide in multiple wavelengths comprising the steps of: exposing a sample on a slide to light to produce spatially resolved images in two or more dimensions; viewing the light through a microscope; splitting light emitted by the sample on the slide into a two dimensional array of light; and detecting the two dimensional array of light, wherein the two dimensional array of light is representative of the emission spectra of the sample on the slide.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of scanning a sample on a slide in multiple wavelengths comprising the steps of: exposing a sample on a slide to light to produce spatially resolved images in two or more dimensions; viewing the light through a microscope; splitting light emitted by the sample on the slide into a two dimensional array of light; and detecting the two dimensional array of light, wherein the two dimensional array of light is representative of the emission spectra of the sample on the slide.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said step of splitting said light line into a two dimensional array is accomplished using an imaging spectrograph.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32 , further comprising the step of converting said array of light into a digital format for spectral decomposition analysis.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said step of detecting said two dimensional array of light is further defined as hyperspectral imaging, wherein all the emission spectra are detected at high spectral resolution by a CCD camera and used to determine the relative intensities of wavelength that contributes to the output of said sample by a spectral decomposition analysis in which the signature emission spectra of said sample is compared to a known spectra.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 32 , further comprising the steps of: generating a light line from a light source; and illuminating said light line through at least one sample, prior to the step of splitting light emitted by at least one sample on said slide into a two dimensional array of light.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said sample is located within a flow cell, and wherein said sample is detected by the steps of: introducing a sample into said flow cell; and scanning said sample, wherein a plurality of samples may be detected serially in a time dependent manner.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said sample comprises a histological sample.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said sample comprises a fluorescent in situ hybridization stained sample.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said sample comprises a comparative genomic hybridization stained sample.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said sample is further defined as comprising a microarray of samples on a slide.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said sample is further defined as comprising one or more samples within a flow cell.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said sample comprises a portion of a semiconductor wafer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said sample is detected at two or more timepoints.
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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) | 2005-01-07 | 2005-07-09 | 2006-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-01-07 | 2009-07-09 | 2010-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-01-07 | 2013-07-09 | 2014-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |