Patent ID: 8421903

Claim:
An apparatus for imaging a biologic sample, comprising: at least one light source adapted to selectively illuminate a region of the sample; at least one lens array having a plurality of lengthwise extending rows, which rows are successively arranged in a widthwise direction, and each row having a plurality of micro lenses each having a resolution field, and each adapted to receive light from the illuminated region of the sample and to produce a beam of light wherein each row includes a first micro lens and the first micro lens in each successive row is offset from the first micro lens in the previous row by a predetermined amount extending in the lengthwise direction, wherein the offset between successive rows aligns the resolution fields of the plurality of micro lenses to collectively create a continuous resolution field across the length of the lens array; at least one image detector adapted to receive light beams from the lens array and provide data signals representative of the received light beams; a positioning system adapted to move the lens array and image detector relative to the sample, or vice versa, or both; and an image processor adapted to produce an image signal indicative of the illuminated region of the sample produced from the data signals.