Patent ID: 7079621

Claim:
A method for performing a transmission of diffraction analysis of one or more analytes on a support having a support surface, wherein the method comprises: providing one or more analytes on a support having a support surface; providing a source of radiation vertically above or vertically below said support surface; providing a detector vertically below or vertically above said support surface such that said support surface is positioned between said source of radiation and said detector; irradiating each of said analytes with a radiation beam generated by the source of radiation, said radiation beam being directed onto said analyte, thereby creating a pattern of diffracted radiation; and detecting said diffracted radiation with said detector after said diffracted radiation passes through the analyte, and determining the diffraction pattern of the analyte, wherein said irradiation is performed such that the radiation beam strikes the analyte in a substantially vertical and substantially perpendicular direction in relation to the support surface.