Patent ID: 8504140

Claim:
An apparatus for quantitative modulated fluorescence imaging to perform depth sectioned fluorescence imaging of a turbid sample including a fluorescent turbid medium, the apparatus comprising: projection optics, including a first optical axis, to expose the turbid sample to a periodic pattern of excitation radiation from an energy source to provide depth-resolved discrimination of fluorescent structures within the turbid medium; an image capture module, including a second optical axis and a detection beam path, to receive a data image from the sample, whereby the first optical axis is inclined relative to the second optical axis; a signal processor to transform the data image from the sample, spatially filter the transformed data image from the sample, and reconstruct the filtered, transformed data image from the sample; the projection optics including an object plane and an image plane that are subject to a Scheimpflug condition; the periodic pattern of excitation radiation having periodicity in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a projection of the first optical axis onto the image plane, so that the phase of the periodic pattern of excitation radiation does not change with increasing depth into an image space; and the projection optics having an angle of inclination relative to an image plane of the apparatus, the angle of inclination being selected such that the component of excitation radiation incident upon the sample that is not absorbed by the sample is scattered in such a way that substantially reduces excitation radiation from reaching the detection beam path.