Patent ID: 8254020

Claim:
A system for imaging comprising: an illumination source ( 104 ) configured to generate a thin light blade ( 106 ) to an illumination plane ( 110 ) and comprising fiber configured to carry a beam of light and an optic assembly ( 114 ) configured to focus the beam of light into the thin light blade ( 106 ) and to the illumination plane ( 110 ); an objective ( 120 ) having optics and an optic axis ( 124 ) and configured to focus the optics at a focal plane ( 122 ) and to move along the optic axis ( 124 ); a coupler ( 132 ) configured to couple the illumination source ( 104 ) to the objective ( 120 ) at a coupling angle, to move the illumination source ( 104 ) with the objective ( 120 ) in a scan direction along the optic axis ( 124 ), and to restrict the illumination plane ( 110 ) to the focal plane ( 122 ) as the objective ( 120 ) and the illumination source ( 104 ) move along the optic axis ( 124 ); and a detector ( 126 ) configured to detect at least one projected image from the illuminated focal plane ( 122 ) through the objective ( 120 ); wherein at least the illumination source ( 104 ) and the objective ( 120 ) are tilted at a tilt angle, wherein the coupling angle is approximately orthogonal.