Patent ID: 8248609
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: G01J

Abstract:
1. A cylindrical illumination confocal spectroscopy system, comprising: a fluidic device having a fluid channel defined therein; an objective lens unit arranged proximate said fluidic device; an illumination system in optical communication with said objective lens unit to provide light to illuminate a sample through said objective lens unit; and a detection system in optical communication with said objective lens unit to receive at least a portion of light that passes through said objective lens unit from said sample, wherein said illumination system comprises a beam-shaping lens unit constructed and arranged to provide a substantially planar illumination beam that subtends across, and is longer than, a lateral dimension of said fluid channel, said substantially planar illumination beam having a diffraction limited thickness in a direction substantially orthogonal to said lateral dimension of said fluid channel, wherein said substantially planar illumination beam incident upon said fluidic device has a width that is substantially longer than the lateral dimension of said fluid channel such that said substantially planar illumination beam has an illumination intensity that is uniform across said lateral dimension of said fluid channel to within ±10%, wherein said detection system comprises an aperture stop defining a substantially rectangular aperture having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension, wherein said aperture stop is arranged so that the substantially rectangular aperture is confocal with an illuminated portion of said fluid channel such that said transverse dimension of said substantially rectangular aperture substantially subtends said lateral dimension of said fluid channel without extending substantially beyond said fluid channel and allows light to pass from only a uniform excitation region while occluding light from outside said uniform excitation region, and said lateral dimension of said substantially rectangular aperture substantially matches said diffraction limited thickness of said planar illumination beam.