Patent ID: 6411835
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
A method for determining a characteristic of a biological sample, the method comprising the steps of: sequentially illuminating plurality of volume elements in a sample with an optical assembly comprising a sheath that is adapted to direct illuminating electromagnetic radiation into the sample with an intensity distribution in the sample that drops off substantially monotonically from a first region in a first optical path;sequentially collecting, with said optical assembly, emanating electromagnetic radiation from each of said volume elements with a collection distribution that drops off substantially monotonically from a second region in a second optical path, said first and second regions at least partially overlapping in each of said volume elements, said optical assembly comprising at least one array of field stops the dimensions of which are large compared to a quotient formed by division of a wavelength of said emanating electromagnetic radiation by a working numerical aperture of said optical assembly; and, detecting the emanating electromagnetic radiation from each of said volume elements to produce a response representative of a characteristic of each of said volume elements.