High numerical aperture selective plane illumination microscopy

US12411331B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-12411331-B2
Application numberUS-202318392789-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateDec 21, 2023
Priority dateJan 31, 2018
Publication dateSep 9, 2025
Grant dateSep 9, 2025

How to read this patent

A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.

  1. Title

    What the patent document calls the invention.

  2. Abstract

    A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.

  3. Assignees and inventors

    Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.

  4. Key dates

    Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.

  5. First independent claim

    The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.

  6. CPC / IPC classifications

    Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.

  7. Citations and related patents

    Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.

Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

In one embodiment, a microscopy system includes a first objective positioned adjacent to a sample to be imaged, the first objective being configured to both illuminate the sample with light and collect light from the sample, and a remote imaging module positioned remotely from the first objective and the sample, the remote imaging module being configured to rotate the image plane of the collected light.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

The invention claimed is: 1. A microscopy system comprising: a first objective positioned adjacent to a sample to be imaged, the first objective being configured to both illuminate the sample with oblique illumination light and collect light from the sample, wherein the first objective is configured to be surrounded by or immersed in a first medium having a first index of refraction; and a remote imaging module positioned remotely from the first objective and the sample, the remote imaging module being configured to rotate the image plane of the collected light to account for an angle of the oblique illumination light, the remote imaging module including a second objective and a third objective, wherein the second objective is configured to be surrounded by or immersed in a second medium having a second index of refraction and wherein the third objective is configured to be surrounded by or immersed in a third medium having a third index of refraction that is different than the second index of refraction. 2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microscopy system is a selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) system. 3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a microscope stage configured to support the sample and wherein the first objective is positioned below the microscope stage. 4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first objective is immersed in a liquid. 5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the second objective is surrounded by air. 6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the third objective is immersed in liquid. 7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first and third objectives are immersed in water. 8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second objective is immersed in a first liquid having a first index of refraction and the third objective is immersed in a second liquid having a second index of refraction that is different from the first index of refraction. 9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second objective and the third objective are positioned adjacent to each other and further comprising a separation device positioned between the second and third objective, the separation device being configured to contain a liquid in which the third objective is to be immersed. 10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the separation device is mounted to the third objective. 11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a translation stage to which the remote imaging module is mounted. 12. A remote imaging module configured to rotate an image plane of light within an optical system, the module comprising: a first objective having a first optical axis positioned on the remote imaging module and being configured to be immersed in or surrounded by a first medium having a first index of refraction; a second objective positioned adjacent to the first objective on the remote imaging module, the second objective having a second optical axis that forms an angle with the first optical axis and being configured to be immersed in or surrounded by a second medium having a second index of refraction that is different than the first index of refraction; and a separation device positioned between the first objective and the second objective that is configured to contain the first or the second medium. 13. The remote imaging module of claim 12 , wherein the first medium is air. 14. The remote imaging module of claim 13 , wherein the second medium is a liquid that is configured to be contained by the separation device. 15. The remote imaging module of claim 14 , wherein the separation device is mounted to the second objective. 16. The remote imaging module of claim 15 , wherein the separation device comprises a first side including a reservoir that is configured to contain the liquid in which the second objective is configured to be immersed and a second side including a window to which the first objective is directly adjacent that enables light to travel from the first objective, through the liquid, and to the second objective. 17. A method for imaging a sample, the method comprising: illuminating a sample with oblique light using a first objective positioned adjacent to the sample, the first objective being configured to be surrounded by or immersed in a first medium having a first index of refraction; capturing light from the sample also using the first objective; and rotating the image plane of the captured light using a remote imaging module that is positioned remotely from the first objective and the sample, the remote imaging module comprising a second objective and a third objective that are positioned adjacent to each other, the second objective being immersed in or surrounded by a second medium having a second index of refraction and the third objecting being immersed in or surrounded by a third medium having a third index of refraction that is different from the second index of refraction. 18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second medium is air and the third medium is a liquid. 19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the liquid is water. 20. The method of claim 17 , wherein illuminating the sample comprises illuminating the sample from below.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • Arrangements with more than one light path, e.g. for comparing two specimens · CPC title

  • adapted for ultraviolet illumination {; Fluorescence microscopes (G02B21/0076 takes precedence)} · CPC title

  • Means for illuminating specimens · CPC title

  • Objectives · CPC title

  • Fluorescence · CPC title

Patent family

Related publications grouped by family.

External sources

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.

What does patent US12411331B2 cover?
In one embodiment, a microscopy system includes a first objective positioned adjacent to a sample to be imaged, the first objective being configured to both illuminate the sample with light and collect light from the sample, and a remote imaging module positioned remotely from the first objective and the sample, the remote imaging module being configured to rotate the image plane of the collect…
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Univ California
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification G02B21/33. Mapped technology areas include Physics.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Sep 09 2025 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 2 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).