Patent Description:
Devices for collecting information from biological samples, such as a gene sequencer, collect and image fluorescence emitted by a fluorescent group carried by a base in a biological sample (nucleic acid), the sample is placed on a platform in an optical system, so as to identify the base and complete the collection. With the development of optical technology, there are more and more requirements for information from the gene sequencer or other device handling the biological samples. In order to improve the information from the information collection device, a first method is to increase the field of vision of the optical system. A second method is to use a movable platform to increase the information by moving the sample being imaged. The faster the platform moves, the greater the amount of information can be obtained. The first method redesigns the existing optical system, but an optical system with large field of view has complex structure and high cost. In the second method, the faster the platform moves, the stronger will be the effect on the optical system. Vibration caused by the movement may cause the imaging quality of the optical system to decline. <CIT> discloses an optical system according to the preamble of claim <NUM> with moving platforms during optical measurements. Shock isolators are provided to minimize vibrations during the measurements. Therefore, the existing devices do not have simple structures in combination of high-quality images of the samples.

It is necessary to provide a biological sample image collection device and gene sequencer which are simple in structure and can obtain high-quality images of biological samples.

A biological sample image collection device, which includes a support and an optical imaging assembly is defined in claim <NUM>. The biological sample image collection device includes:.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the optical imaging assembly includes: a light source output device for outputting light; a first dichroic mirror for receiving and reflecting the light output by the light source output device; an objective lens, arranged above the movable platform, is configured to focus the light reflected by the first dichroic mirror onto the biological sample to excite a fluorescent marker in the biological sample to generate fluorescence, and the fluorescence is emitted and projected onto the first dichroic mirror; the first dichroic mirror is further configured for transmitting the florescence projected by the objective lens; an image sensor for sensing the received light to form an fluorescent image of the biological sample; and a light guide for guiding the fluorescence light transmitted by the first dichroic mirror to the image sensor.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the biological sample image collection device includes a plurality of objective lenses and one image sensor, a photosensitivity range of the image sensor is greater than a sum of imaging ranges of the plurality of objective lenses.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an plurality of objective lenses are arranged above each movable platform, distances between each objective lens is equal, and projections of the objective lens divide an image of the biological sample into a plurality of sub images with equal spacing.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the biological sample image collection device includes a plurality of objective lenses and a sample position exchange member. The focusing distances of all objective lenses are at different heights above the movable platform. Each objective lens is configured to focus light on a slide of a plurality of slides where the biological sample is on. When the plurality of movable platforms move relative to the support so that each of the plurality of objective lenses collect fluorescence from a respective one of the plurality of slides, the sample position exchange member changes position of the biological samples under the plurality of objective lenses.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sample position exchange member is a rotating platform connected to the plurality of movable platforms. The plurality of movable platforms is movably connected to the rotating platform. The rotating platform is arranged on the support, and rotatable around a center of the array on a plane parallel to the movable platforms to exchange positions of the plurality of movable platforms.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sample position exchange member includes a manipulator and a plurality of rotating platforms connected to the plurality of movable platforms. The manipulator places the biological samples from one movable platform to another movable platform. The plurality of movable platforms is movably connected to the plurality of rotating platforms. The plurality of rotating platforms can drive the biological samples to rotate on a plane parallel to the movable platform.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is an even number of the movable platforms; all the movable platforms are arranged in a rectangle on the support. Each of the even number of movable platforms moves closer to or away from a symmetry axis of the rectangle simultaneously.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of movable platforms are equally spaced in a circle on the support, angles between two adjacent movable platforms are equal, and all of the movable platforms move closer to or away from a geometric center of the circle simultaneously.

A gene sequencer which includes the biological sample image collection device is also disclosed.

The plurality of movable platforms of the biological sample image collection device and the gene sequencer are distributed to form an array on the support, and the forces acting on the support offset each other when the plurality of movable platforms are moved, thus vibrations affecting the support and the stability of the biological samples are canceled, and the objective lens is thus able to obtain accurate fluorescence distribution, so as to form a high-quality fluorescence image of the biological sample using the image sensor for light sensing. Compared with the prior art, the biological sample image collection device has the advantages of simple structure and high-quality images of biological samples.

Description of main components or elements:
Biological sample image collection device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; Biological sample <NUM>; Support <NUM>; Damping pad <NUM>; Movable platform <NUM>; Optical imaging assembly <NUM>; Light source output device <NUM>; Laser transmitter <NUM>, <NUM>; Collimating lens <NUM>; Splitting prism <NUM>; Laser-beam <NUM>, <NUM>; Reflector <NUM>; Optical splitter <NUM>; Collimator <NUM>; Objective lens <NUM>; First dichroic mirror <NUM>; Light guide <NUM>; Second dichroic mirror <NUM>; First reflecting mirror <NUM>; Image sensor <NUM>; First image sensor <NUM>; Second image sensor <NUM>; Lifting member <NUM>; Sample position exchange member <NUM>; Manipulator <NUM>; Rotating platform <NUM>.

The present disclosure will be further described in detail below in combination with the accompanying drawings.

In order to better understand the above objects, features and advantages of the disclosure, the disclosure is described in detail below in combination with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other without conflict.

Many specific details are set forth in the following description to facilitate a full understanding of the disclosure. The described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the disclosure, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work belong to the protective scope of the disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings generally understood by those skilled in the technical field of the present disclosure. The terms used in the specification of the disclosure herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the present disclosure provides a biological sample image collection device <NUM> for acquiring an image of a biological sample <NUM>.

The biological sample image collection device <NUM> includes a support <NUM>, a plurality of movable platforms <NUM>, and an optical imaging assembly <NUM>. Multiple damping pads <NUM> are arranged at bottom of the support <NUM>. The plurality of movable platforms <NUM> are movably connected to the support <NUM>, and the plurality of movable platforms <NUM> are configured for placing biological samples <NUM> and driving the biological sample <NUM> to move. The plurality of movable platforms <NUM> are distributed on the support <NUM> in the form of an array. The plurality of movable platforms <NUM> can move relative to the support and the forces acting on the support <NUM> during the movement balance in opposition and so offset each other, so as to avoid vibration of the movement affecting the support <NUM> and the biological sample <NUM>. Specifically, the plurality of movable platforms <NUM> counteract the forces acting on the support <NUM> during movement by moving in a same direction and at a same speed relative to an array center of the plurality of movable platforms <NUM>. The same direction movement includes movement close to the array center and movement away from the array center. The optical imaging assembly <NUM> is arranged above the movable platforms <NUM>, and the optical imaging assembly <NUM> is configured to collect images of biological samples <NUM> on the movable platforms <NUM> when the movable platforms <NUM> move relative to the array center.

The optical imaging assembly <NUM> includes a light source output device <NUM>, an objective lens <NUM> placed above the movable platforms <NUM>, a first dichroic mirror <NUM>, a light guide <NUM>, and an image sensor <NUM>. The light source output device <NUM> is configured for outputting light. The first dichroic mirror <NUM> and the objective lens <NUM> are arranged one-to-one, and the first dichroic mirror <NUM> and the objective lens <NUM> are arranged between the objective lens <NUM> and the light source output device <NUM> to receive light output by the light source output device <NUM> and reflect the light onto the objective lens <NUM>. The objective lens <NUM> is configured to focus the light reflected by the first dichroic mirror <NUM> on the biological sample <NUM> on the movable platform <NUM> to excite a fluorescent marker in the biological sample <NUM> to generate fluorescence, and emit and project the fluorescence to the first dichroic mirror <NUM> through the objective lens <NUM>. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the objective lens <NUM> is connected with a lifting member <NUM>, the objective lens <NUM> can be moved up and down with the lifting member <NUM> to adjust a focusing position of the objective lens <NUM>, to focus on the biological sample <NUM>. The first dichroic mirror <NUM> is further configured to transmit the fluorescence projected by the objective lens <NUM> to the light guide <NUM>. The light guide <NUM> and the first dichroic mirror <NUM> are arranged one-to-one, and the light guide <NUM> is configured to guide the light of fluorescence transmitted by the first dichroic mirror <NUM> to the image sensor <NUM>. The image sensor <NUM> senses the received light to form a fluorescent image of the biological sample <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the fluorescent markers in the biological sample <NUM> placed on the movable platform <NUM> generate different wavelengths of light under the excitation of specific wavelengths of light. The light guide <NUM> includes a second dichroic mirror <NUM>, a first reflecting mirror <NUM>, a second reflecting mirror <NUM>, a first cylindrical lens <NUM>, and a second cylindrical lens <NUM>. The second dichroic mirror <NUM> receives the fluorescence transmitted by the first dichroic mirror <NUM>, transmits a light of first wavelength in the fluorescence to the first reflecting mirror <NUM>, and also reflects a light of second wavelength in the fluorescence to the second reflecting mirror <NUM>. The first reflecting mirror <NUM> reflects light to the first cylindrical lens <NUM>, and the second reflecting mirror <NUM> reflects light to the second cylindrical lens <NUM>. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, there are two first reflecting mirrors <NUM>, and there is one second reflecting mirror <NUM>. In other embodiments, quantity of the first reflecting mirror <NUM> may be one or three or more, and quantity of the second reflecting mirror <NUM> may be two or more. Quantities of the first reflecting mirror <NUM> and the second reflecting mirror <NUM> are specifically determined according to relative positions between the first cylindrical lens <NUM> and the second dichroic mirror <NUM>, and the second cylindrical lens <NUM> and the second dichroic mirror <NUM>. The first cylindrical lens <NUM> and the second cylindrical lens <NUM> converge received light to the image sensor <NUM>. The image sensor <NUM> senses lights of the first cylindrical lens <NUM> and the second cylindrical lens <NUM> to form a fluorescent image of the biological sample <NUM>. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the image sensor <NUM> includes a first image sensor <NUM> and a second image sensor <NUM>. The first image sensor <NUM> receives the light converged by the first cylindrical lens <NUM> to form a first sample image. The second image sensor <NUM> receives the light converged by the second cylindrical lens <NUM> to form a second sample image.

In another embodiment, the fluorescent marker in the biological sample <NUM> placed on the movable platform <NUM> generates fluorescence under excitation by light. The light guide <NUM> differs from the light guide <NUM> shown in <FIG> in that the light guide <NUM> of the other embodiment includes a first reflecting mirror <NUM>, but does not include the second dichroic mirror <NUM>. The first reflecting mirror <NUM> directly receives the fluorescence transmitted by the first dichroic mirror <NUM> and transmits the fluorescence to the image sensor <NUM>. Correspondingly, the image sensor <NUM> includes a first image sensor <NUM>, but does not include a second image sensor <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the biological sample image collection device <NUM> includes two movable platforms <NUM>, each movable platform <NUM> carries one biological sample <NUM>, and the biological sample image collection device <NUM> is configured to obtain images of the two biological samples <NUM>.

The biological sample image collection device <NUM> includes two objective lenses <NUM>, two first dichroic mirrors <NUM>, two light guides <NUM> and the image sensor <NUM> arranged above the two movable platforms <NUM>. The light source output device <NUM> is configured to output light to the two first dichroic mirrors <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the light source output device <NUM> is placed between two first dichroic mirrors <NUM>, the light source device <NUM> includes a laser transmitter <NUM>, a collimating lens <NUM>, a splitting prism <NUM>, and a reflector <NUM>. The laser transmitter <NUM> is configured for outputting laser (or "excitation light"). The collimating lens <NUM> is configured to collimate the laser and transmit the laser to the splitting prism <NUM>. The splitting prism <NUM> divides the laser into two laser-beams <NUM> and <NUM>. One laser-beam <NUM> is reflected to one of the first dichroic mirrors <NUM> through the reflector <NUM>, and other laser-beam <NUM> is directly transmitted to the other of the first dichroic mirrors <NUM> after passing through the splitting prism <NUM>, so that the laser output by the light source output device <NUM> is emitted to the two first dichroic mirrors <NUM>. The splitting prism <NUM> can be a <NUM>/<NUM> splitting prism <NUM>, and the <NUM>/<NUM> splitting prism <NUM> divides the laser into two laser-beams <NUM> and <NUM> with equal power. The two first dichroic mirrors <NUM> reflect the light output from the light source output device <NUM> onto the two objective lenses <NUM>, and transmit the fluorescence excited from the two biological samples <NUM> projected by the two objective lenses <NUM> to the two light guides <NUM>. The image sensor <NUM> is placed between the two first dichroic mirrors <NUM>, to receive light introduced by the two light guides <NUM>, to form a fluorescent image of the two biological samples <NUM>. The photosensitivity range of the image sensor <NUM> is greater than a sum of imaging ranges of the two objective lenses <NUM>, so that images of the two biological samples <NUM> can be formed on the same image sensor <NUM>. In another embodiment, the photosensitivity range of the image sensor <NUM> is the same as the imaging range of one objective lens <NUM>, and the biological sample image collection device <NUM> includes two image sensors <NUM> with the same number as the objective lens <NUM>, each of the image sensor <NUM> forms a fluorescent image of the biological sample <NUM>.

<FIG> shows that the two movable platforms <NUM> are positioned symmetrically along a first axis X and a second axis Y perpendicular to the first axis X, and the array center is the intersection of the first axis X and the second axis Y. The image sensor <NUM> may be a linear array camera, a TDI (time delay integration) camera, or an area array camera. The two movable platforms <NUM> can move parallel to the direction of the first axis X and parallel to the direction of the second axis Y. When the biological sample image collection device <NUM> collects the image of the biological sample <NUM>, the two movable platforms <NUM> move parallel to the first axis X and relative to the array center oppositely and symmetrically at a same speed, and the two movable platforms <NUM> move from a first edge of the two biological samples <NUM> to a second edge of the two biological samples <NUM>, the first edge is opposite to the second edge, so that the two objective lenses <NUM> can acquire fluorescence of a row parallel to the first axis X excited on the biological samples <NUM>. Then, the two movable platforms <NUM> move parallel to the second axis Y relative to the array center oppositely and symmetrically at a same speed, and the two movable platforms <NUM> move to an end corresponding to the second edge on other row parallel to the first axis X on the two biological samples <NUM>, and then the two movable platforms <NUM> move along the first axis X to an end corresponding to the first edge on the other row, so that the two objective lenses <NUM> can obtain fluorescence of the other row parallel to the first axis X excited on the biological samples <NUM>. In this way, the two objective lenses <NUM> can acquire all the fluorescence on the biological sample <NUM> by scanning the biological sample <NUM> line by line. The multiple lines of fluorescence obtained by each objective lens <NUM> are transmitted to the image sensor <NUM> through the corresponding first dichroic mirror <NUM> and the light guide <NUM> to form a fluorescent image of the biological sample <NUM>. In another embodiment, the two movable platforms <NUM> move from the first edge to the second edge of the biological sample <NUM>, and the two movable platforms <NUM> move parallel to the first axis X, the two objective lenses <NUM> obtain fluorescence of a row parallel to the first axis X. The two movable platforms <NUM> return to the first edge of the two biological samples <NUM> along the first axis X. Then the two movable platforms <NUM> move parallel to the second axis Y relative to the array center at a same speed, and move to the end corresponding to the first edge on the other row parallel to the first axis X on the two biological samples <NUM>. Then the two movable platforms <NUM> move along the first axis X to the end corresponding to the second edge on the other row, so that the two objective lenses <NUM> acquire the fluorescence of the other row excited on the biological sample <NUM> parallel to the first axis X. In this way, the two objective lenses <NUM> acquire images of all fluorescence on the biological sample <NUM> by scanning the biological sample <NUM> line by line. The scanning method of the biological sample <NUM> can also be other method. For example, the two movable platforms <NUM> may move from the center of the two biological samples <NUM>, and the two biological samples <NUM> can be scanned line by line to obtain all the fluorescence on the two biological samples <NUM>. The specific scanning method is determined according to need and design, which is not listed here. The two movable platforms <NUM> can move closer to or away from the array center when moving along the first axis X, and the two movable platforms <NUM> can also move closer to or away from the array center when moving along the second axis Y, which is determined according to initial positions of the two objective lenses <NUM> and the biological samples <NUM>. During collection of images of the two biological samples <NUM>, the two movable platforms <NUM> move relative to the array center in a same direction and at a same speed, and forces acting on the support <NUM> during the movement offset each other, so as to avoid vibration of the support <NUM> and the biological sample <NUM> placed the movable platform <NUM>. Therefore, the objective lens <NUM> can obtain accurate image of distribution of fluorescence, so that the image sensor <NUM> can form high-quality images of the biological samples <NUM>.

In another embodiment, a width of an area on the biological sample <NUM> where image needs to be collected is within a field of view of the objective lens <NUM>. The image sensor <NUM> is a linear array camera, a TDI (time delay integration) camera, or an area array camera. The difference between the two movable platforms <NUM> of the other embodiment and the two movable platforms <NUM> shown in <FIG> is that the two movable platforms <NUM> of the other embodiment can move in a direction parallel to the first axis X, but not in a direction parallel to the second axis Y. When the biological sample image collection device <NUM> collects the image of the biological samples <NUM>, the two movable platforms <NUM> move from two deviated edges of the two biological samples <NUM>, parallel to the first axis X, to the other edge of the two biological samples <NUM> in a same direction and at a same speed relative to the array center, so that the two objective lenses <NUM> can obtain fluorescence of rows excited on the biological samples <NUM> parallel to the first axis X, so as to obtain fluorescence of the area to be imaged on the biological samples <NUM>. The fluorescence obtained by each objective lens <NUM> is transmitted to the image sensor <NUM> through the corresponding first dichroic mirror <NUM> and the light guide <NUM> to form fluorescent images of the biological samples <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of the biological sample image collection device <NUM> provided in another embodiment. The difference between the biological sample image collection device <NUM> and the biological sample image collection device <NUM> shown in <FIG> is that the biological sample image collection device <NUM> includes two movable platforms <NUM>, one of the movable platform <NUM> is provided with an objective lens <NUM> above the movable platform <NUM>, and the other is not. Accordingly, the biological sample image collection device <NUM> only includes one first dichroic mirror <NUM> and one light guide <NUM> corresponding to the objective lens <NUM>. The biological sample image collection device <NUM> is configured to acquire image of the biological sample <NUM> on the movable platform <NUM> provided with the objective lens <NUM> above. The process of the biological sample image collection device <NUM> acquiring image of the biological sample <NUM> is the same as that of the biological sample image collection device <NUM>. During the acquisition process, the two movable platforms <NUM> move simultaneously, so as to avoid vibration of the support <NUM> and the biological sample <NUM> caused by the movement of the movable platform <NUM> under the objective lens <NUM>, so as to obtain a high-quality image of the biological sample <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in another embodiment, the objective lens <NUM> in the biological sample image collection device <NUM> of <FIG> is different in that two objective lenses <NUM> of the other embodiment are arranged above each movable platform <NUM>. Distance between the two objective lenses <NUM> is half a length or width of the biological sample <NUM>, and one of the objective lenses <NUM> is facing an edge of the biological sample <NUM>. <FIG> shows that the distance between the two objective lenses <NUM> is half of the length of the biological sample <NUM>, and <FIG> shows that the distance between the two objective lenses <NUM> is half of the width of the biological sample <NUM>. The two objective lenses <NUM> on one of the movable platforms <NUM> and the two objective lenses <NUM> on the other movable platform <NUM> are centered on the array center. Thus, when the movable platform <NUM> travels for half the length or width of the biological sample <NUM> along the first axis X or the second axis Y, the two objective lenses <NUM> corresponding to each movable platform <NUM> can obtain fluorescence excited from the biological sample <NUM>, so as to obtain image of the whole biological sample <NUM>. In another embodiment, three, four or more objective lenses <NUM> may be arranged above each of the movable platforms <NUM>, spacing distances between the objective lenses <NUM> are equal, and projections of the objective lenses <NUM> divide the biological sample <NUM> into a plurality of equally-spaced parts. The plurality of objective lenses <NUM> on one movable platform <NUM> and the plurality of objective lenses <NUM> on the other movable platform <NUM> are centered on the array center. Thus, when the movable platform <NUM> travels one third, one quarter, or less of the length or width of the biological sample <NUM> along the first axis X or the second axis Y, three, four, or more objective lenses <NUM> corresponding to each movable platform <NUM> can obtain fluorescence excited from the biological sample <NUM>, so as to obtain image of the whole biological sample <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a biological sample image collection device <NUM> provided in another embodiment. The biological sample image collection device <NUM> is similar to the biological sample image collection device <NUM> in <FIG>. The differences between the biological sample image collection device <NUM> and the biological sample image collection device <NUM> are shown in <FIG>. The difference between the biological sample image collection device <NUM> and the biological sample image collection device <NUM> is that the biological sample image collection device <NUM> also includes a sample position exchange member <NUM>, and points of focus of the two objective lenses <NUM> placed above the two movable platforms <NUM> are located at different heights above the two movable platforms <NUM>. The two objective lenses <NUM> are configured to focus light on slides of different layers on the biological sample <NUM> of double-layer slides, so as to excite fluorescent markers on slides at different heights to produce fluorescence, so that the two objective lenses <NUM> can collect fluorescence on different slides. When the two movable platforms <NUM> move in a same direction and at a same speed relative to the array center to enable the two objective lenses <NUM> to collect fluorescence on the same slide, the sample position exchange member <NUM> exchanges the positions of the two biological samples <NUM> under the two objective lenses <NUM>. After exchanging positions of the two biological samples <NUM>, the two movable platforms <NUM> move at a same speed relative to the array center again, so that the two objective lenses <NUM> can collect fluorescence on the other slide. In this way, fluorescence on the biological samples <NUM> of double-layer slide is collected through the two objective lenses <NUM>, so that the image sensor <NUM> can obtain the fluorescence images of the biological samples <NUM>. The sample position exchange member <NUM> shown in <FIG> is a rotating platform connected with the two movable platforms <NUM>. The two movable platforms <NUM> are movably connected to the rotating platform, and the rotating platform is rotatably arranged on the support <NUM>. The two movable platforms <NUM> can be rotated <NUM> degrees around the array center on a plane parallel to the movable platform <NUM>, so that positions of the two biological samples <NUM> relative to the two objective lenses <NUM> can be interchanged. Referring to <FIG>, in another embodiment, a sample position exchange member <NUM> in the biological sample image collection device <NUM> includes a manipulator <NUM>, the manipulator <NUM> move the biological sample <NUM> located on one movable platform <NUM> to another movable platform <NUM> to exchange the positions of the two biological samples <NUM>. Furthermore, considering that the positions of the biological samples <NUM> exchanged by the manipulator <NUM> are different from original positions of the biological samples <NUM>, the sample position exchange member <NUM> further includes two rotating platforms <NUM> respectively connected with the two movable platforms <NUM>. The rotating platforms <NUM> can drive the biological samples <NUM> to rotate on a plane parallel to the movable platform <NUM>, so as to adjust positions of the two biological samples <NUM> to match positions of the two objective lenses <NUM>, thus the two objective lenses <NUM> can collect fluorescence excited from the biological samples <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, two rotating platforms <NUM> are respectively placed on sides of the movable platforms <NUM> away from the support <NUM>, and the biological samples <NUM> are placed on the rotating platforms <NUM>. In another embodiment, the two rotating platforms <NUM> are respectively placed under the movable platforms <NUM>, and the two rotating platforms <NUM> are positioned between the movable platform <NUM> and the support <NUM>, the biological samples <NUM> are placed on the movable platforms <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of the biological sample image collection device <NUM> provided in another embodiment. The biological sample image collection device <NUM> is similar to the biological sample image collection device <NUM> in <FIG>. Differences between the biological sample image collection device <NUM> and the biological sample image collection device <NUM> are shown in <FIG>. The differences are that quantity of objective lenses <NUM> arranged above the two movable platforms <NUM> is greater than two, and this number is equal to quantity of layers of a single slide in the biological samples <NUM>. The points of focus of all objective lenses <NUM> above the two movable platforms <NUM> are located at different heights above the movable platform <NUM>. Each objective lens <NUM> is configured to focus on a different layer of a slide of the biological sample <NUM>, fluorescent markers of the biological sample <NUM> located on different layers of each slide can be excited to generate fluorescence, so that different objective lenses <NUM> collect fluorescence from different slides. In another embodiment, the quantity of objective lenses <NUM> above each movable platform <NUM> may be equal. The quantity of objective lenses <NUM> above one movable platform <NUM> may be two as shown in <FIG> or <FIG>. In other embodiments, quantity of objective lenses <NUM> above one movable platform <NUM> may also be three, four, or more. The quantity of objective lenses <NUM> above each movable platform <NUM> may also be different. For example, one objective lens <NUM> may be positioned above one movable platform <NUM>, and two objective lenses <NUM> may be positioned above the other movable platform <NUM>. A height of a point of focus of the objective lens <NUM> above one movable platform <NUM> may be greater than that of the objective lens <NUM> above the other movable platform <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, heights of points of focus of the left multiple objective lenses <NUM> are greater than those of the right multiple objective lenses <NUM>. In another embodiment, the heights of the focusing points of the left multiple objective lenses <NUM> may also be partially greater than that of the right objective lenses <NUM>, and partially less than that of the right objective lenses <NUM>. This ensures that the biological sample <NUM> on each layer of the slide is imaged by the corresponding objective lens <NUM>. When the two movable platforms <NUM> move at a same speed relative to the array center to let the objective lenses <NUM> collect fluorescence on respective slides, the sample position exchange member <NUM> exchanges positions of the two biological samples <NUM> under the objective lens <NUM>. The sample position exchange member <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes the manipulator <NUM> and the two rotating platforms <NUM>. The sample position exchange member <NUM> can also be the rotating platform in <FIG>. After exchanging the positions of the two biological samples <NUM>, the two movable platforms <NUM> move in a same direction and at a same speed relative to the array center again, so that the objective lenses <NUM> above the movable platforms <NUM> collect fluorescence on remaining slides of the biological samples <NUM>. In this way, fluorescence on multilayer slides is imaged through a plurality of objective lenses <NUM>, and the image sensor <NUM> can obtain fluorescence images of the biological samples <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an arrangement of movable platforms <NUM> in another embodiment. In this embodiment, quantity of movable platforms <NUM> is an even number greater than two. All movable platforms <NUM> are arranged in a rectangle on the support <NUM>, and the array center is a geometric center of the rectangle. Referring to <FIG>, the light source output device <NUM> outputs an even number of light beams greater than two. The light beams are projected on the first dichroic mirror <NUM> corresponding to each movable platform <NUM> one-to-one, and are focused by the objective lens <NUM> to excite fluorescence from the biological sample <NUM> on each movable platform <NUM>. The light source output device <NUM> includes a laser transmitter <NUM>, an optical splitter <NUM>, and a plurality of collimators <NUM>. The laser transmitter <NUM> outputs a laser light, the optical splitter <NUM> includes a laser inlet and a plurality of laser outlets. The optical splitter <NUM> divides the laser input from the laser inlet into a plurality of laser beams of equal power, and the plurality of laser beams are output from a plurality of laser outlets respectively. Quantity of collimators <NUM> is the same as quantity of objective lenses <NUM>. Collimators <NUM> are configured to collimate laser light output from a plurality of laser outlets into parallel light beams, and project the parallel light beams onto a plurality of first dichroic mirrors <NUM>, and the first dichroic mirrors <NUM> project the parallel light beams onto a plurality of objective lenses <NUM>. The light source output device <NUM> may further include a plurality of reflectors (not shown in the figures), the reflectors are configured for guiding the parallel light beams output by the collimator <NUM> onto the first dichroic mirrors <NUM> according to positions of the first dichroic mirrors <NUM>. During collection of the image of the biological samples <NUM>, all the movable platforms <NUM> are closer to or away from two symmetry axes of the rectangle, such as the first axis X and the second axis Y in <FIG>, so that the objective lenses <NUM> located above the movable platforms <NUM> can collect fluorescence, and light is introduced into the image sensor <NUM> through the first dichroic mirrors <NUM> and the light guides <NUM> to record fluorescent images of a plurality of biological samples <NUM>. Since the even number of movable platforms <NUM> move closer to or away from the symmetry axis of the rectangle, during the movement, forces acting on the movable platforms <NUM> and the support <NUM> offset each other, to avoid the vibration of the whole support <NUM> and of the biological sample <NUM> placed on the movable platform <NUM>. The objective lenses <NUM> can obtain an accurate image of distribution of fluorescence, and the image sensor <NUM> can form high-quality fluorescence images of the biological samples <NUM>.

<FIG> is an arrangement of the movable platforms <NUM> in another embodiment. In this embodiment, a plurality of the movable platforms <NUM> are equally spaced in a circle on the support <NUM>, and an angle α exists between each adjacent movable platform <NUM>. The array center is a center of the circle. During collection of the images of the biological samples <NUM>, all the movable platforms <NUM> move closer to or away from the center of the circle to allow collection of fluorescence by the objective lens <NUM> located above the movable platform <NUM>, and light is transmitted into the image sensor <NUM> through the first dichroic mirror <NUM> and the light guide <NUM> to record images of fluorescence of a plurality of biological samples <NUM>. Since a plurality of movable platforms <NUM> moves closer to or away from the center of the circle, during the movement, forces acting on the movable platforms <NUM> and the support <NUM> offset each other, so as to avoid the vibration of the whole support <NUM> and the biological sample <NUM> placed on the movable platform <NUM>, the objective lens <NUM> can obtain accurate fluorescence distribution, the image sensor <NUM> can form high-quality fluorescence images of the biological samples <NUM>.

The movable platforms <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> may also include the sample position exchange member <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG> to place or replace the biological samples <NUM> under different objective lenses <NUM>, the objective lenses <NUM> can complete acquisition of images of more than two biological samples <NUM> and including multi-layer slides.

A plurality of movable platforms <NUM> of the above biological sample image collection devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are formed in an array distribution on the support <NUM>, and the movable platforms <NUM> can move in a same direction and at a same speed relative to the array center. Forces acting on the movable platforms <NUM> and the support <NUM> offset each other, which can avoid the vibration of the whole support <NUM> and the biological sample <NUM> caused by the movement of the movable platform <NUM>, so that the objective lens <NUM> can obtain accurate fluorescence distribution, and the image sensor <NUM> can form high-quality fluorescent images of the biological samples <NUM>. The biological sample image collection device of the present disclosure has the advantages of simple structure and high-quality images of biological samples <NUM>.

The present disclosure further provides a gene sequencer, the gene sequencer includes any of the above biological sample image collection devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. As the image quality of the biological sample <NUM> collected by the biological sample image collection device is improved, the gene sequencer is able to analyze base sequences more rapidly and accurately.

Claim 1:
A biological sample image collection device (<NUM>) comprising:
a support (<NUM>);
an optical imaging assembbly (<NUM>);
a plurality of movable platforms (<NUM>) movably connected to the support (<NUM>), and configured for placing biological samples (<NUM>) and driving the biological samples (<NUM>) to move, the plurality of movable platforms (<NUM>) being distributed to form an array on the support (<NUM>), wherein the optical imaging assemby (<NUM>) is configured to collect images of biological samples (<NUM>) on the respective movable platforms (<NUM>) when the movable platfoms (<NUM>) move relative to the support (<NUM>) characterized in that the movable platforms (<NUM>) are configured to move closer to or away from a center of the array simultaneously so that forces acting on the support (<NUM>) during such movement are balanced in opposition and offset each other so as to avoid vibration of the support (<NUM>) and the biological samples (<NUM>) caused by the movement.