Patent ID: 8743195

Claim:
A computer implemented method for creating a contiguous digital image of a fluorescence sample, where one or more processors are programmed to perform steps comprising: applying oblique illumination to the fluorescence sample; capturing a macro image of the fluorescence sample under oblique illumination and storing the macro image in a data storage area; analyzing the macro image to identify a region containing at least a portion of the fluorescence sample; determining an optimal line rate for use during image capture with a time delay integration (TDI) line scan camera; identifying a plurality of focus points on the fluorescence sample, where a focus point comprises an X-Y location and an objective lens height; creating a focus map comprising the plurality of focus points; after analyzing the macro image to identify the region containing the at least a portion of the fluorescence sample, scanning a digital image of the identified region containing the at least a portion of the fluorescence sample using the TDI line scan camera in accordance with said optimal line rate; and combining a plurality of digital image portions into a contiguous digital image of the fluorescence sample.