Patent ID: 9523640
Filing Date: 2016-12-20
CPC Classification: G01N,G02B

Claim Text:
1. A method for measuring fluorescence comprising: providing a liquid sample having a volume contained in a sample carrier, wherein the sample volume contains at least one fluorophore amidst bulk fluorescence of the sample; providing a laser light source to generate a scanning spot of a single wavelength having an excitation wavelength and a focus diameter to impinge on the sample volume for measuring fluorescence; and displacing the laser spot of said single wavelength, relative to the sample volume, with a two dimensional preview scan, by moving the sample carrier and the incident beam relative to each other in an R-theta scan at a first resolution to detect in a three-dimensional space, defined by the sample volume, at least one individual volume of interest where fluorescence exceeds bulk fluorescence in other regions of the sample carrier wherein the at least one volume of interest and the laser spot have a defined relationship, then measuring a depth profile of fluorescence in the at least one individual volume of interest at a second resolution higher than the first resolution as a profile of the at least one fluorophore therein amidst the bulk fluorescence, wherein a two dimensional R-theta scan of the sample at a single wavelength establishs three dimensional fluorescence profiles of the at least one fluorophore in the sample amidst the bulk fluorescence.