Patent ID: 7885498

Claim:
A total internal reflection (TIR) microscopy launch system for delivering EMR to a sample slide having a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides having a surface, the system comprising: a first optical fiber mounting element positioned in optical contact with a first side of the plurality of sides; a first optical fiber optically coupled with said first optical fiber mounting element so as to position said first optical fiber to deliver a first EMR through a first surface of the first side to a portion of a second surface of the plurality of sides at a first incident angle, such that when a sample is positioned proximate the second surface, the first incident angle is at least a critical angle for total internal reflection at an interface of the second surface and the sample; a second optical fiber mounting element positioned in optical contact with a third side of the plurality of sides; and a second optical fiber optically coupled with said second optical fiber mounting element so as to position said second optical fiber to deliver a second EMR through a third surface of the third side to a portion of the second surface at a second incident angle, such that when a sample is positioned proximate the second surface, the second incident angle is at least a critical angle for total internal reflection at an interface of the second surface and the sample.