Optical arrangement and method for imaging a sample

Abstract

An optical arrangement for imaging a sample is described. The optical arrangement in various implementations may be constituted to include at least one first objective lens and at least one second objective lens, at least one illumination source for producing an illumination beam, detector for imaging radiation from the sample, and at least one mirror for reflecting the radiation from one of the first objective lens or the second objective lens into the detector. The at least one mirror may be double-sided and dependent on the illumination beam at the other one of the first objective lens and the second objective lens.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical arrangement for imaging a sample comprising:
 at least one first objective lens and at least one second objective lens;   at least one illumination source for producing an illumination beam;   a detector for imaging radiation from the sample; and   at least one mirror for at least one of reflecting the illumination beam towards one of the first objective lens or the second objective lens, or reflecting the radiation from the other one of the first objective lens or the second objective lens to the detector.   
     
     
         2 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mirror is arranged for reflecting the radiation from one of the first objective lens or the second objective lens into the detector. 
     
     
         3 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein depending on the position of the selected one of the at least one mirror, the illumination beam is directed through one of the first objective lens or the second objective lens, and the radiation is directed through the other one of the first objective lens or the second objective lens. 
     
     
         4 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the at least one mirror is dependent on the illumination beam at the other one of the at least one first objective lens and the at least one second objective lens. 
     
     
         5 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mirror is movable. 
     
     
         6 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mirror is translatable or rotatable. 
     
     
         7 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mirror is double-sided. 
     
     
         8 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , comprising at least two mirrors, wherein the reflected radiation can be directed into one of the at least two mirrors. 
     
     
         9 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , comprising an image processor connected to the detector. 
     
     
         10 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , as configured for imaging a fluorescing sample, wherein the radiation comprises fluorescing radiation. 
     
     
         11 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , comprising at least one optical filter. 
     
     
         12 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1 , comprising at least a third objective lens for illuminating the sample or collecting radiation from the sample. 
     
     
         13 . A method for imaging a sample, comprising positioning a sample in an optical arrangement according to  claim 1 , actuating the at least one illumination source to produce an illumination beam, and receiving imaging radiation from the sample at the detector. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 illuminating the sample using a first illumination beam;   reflecting first radiation from the at least one first objective lens or the at least one second objective lens into the detector with the at least one mirror;   detecting the first radiation from the sample;   processing the first radiation to obtain a first data set;   repositioning the at least one mirror;   illuminating the sample using a second illumination beam at an angle to the first illumination beam;   reflecting second radiation from the first objective lens or the second objective lens into the detector with the at least one mirror;   detecting the second radiation from the sample;   processing the second radiation to obtain a second data set; and   combining the first data set and the second data set to produce an image of the sample.   
     
     
         15 . A method for imaging a sample, comprising:
 illuminating the sample using a first illumination beam directed through one of a first objective lens or a second objective lens;   detecting, at a stationary detector in a stationary position, first radiation from the sample directed through the other one of the first objective lens or the second objective lens;   processing the first radiation to obtain a first data set;   illuminating the sample using a second illumination beam directed through the other of the first objective lens or the second objective lens;   detecting, at the stationary detector in the stationary position, second radiation from the sample directed through the one of the first objective lens or the second objective lens;   processing the second radiation to obtain a second data set; and   combining the first data set and the second data set to produce an image of the sample.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 illuminating the sample with at least one third illumination beam, and   detecting, at the stationary detector in a stationary position, third radiation from the sample.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the third radiation from the sample is directed through one of the first objective lens or the second objective lens. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least two of the first illumination beam, the second illumination beam, and the third illumination beam are produced from a single illumination source. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising moving the at least one mirror to produce one of the first illumination beam, the second illumination beam, or the third illumination beam. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising an optically filtering of at least one of the first illumination beam, the second illumination beam, or the third illumination beam.