Imaging systems with micro optical element arrays and methods of specimen imaging

A system for imaging of a sample, the system comprising:

• a transparent imaging window, wherein the transparent imaging window provides a surface onto or over which the sample is disposed during imaging of the sample;
• a photon source for providing an illumination beam;
• a beam splitter for directing the illumination beam toward the imaging window;
• a collimating lens for collimating the illumination beam over an area comparable in size to a field to be illuminated, thereby providing a collimated illumination beam, wherein the collimating lens is disposed between the imaging window and the beam splitter such that the illumination beam is directed to the collimating lens by the beam splitter;
• an optical chip, wherein the optical chip comprises an array of micro optical elements for focusing the collimated illumination beam onto a focal plane above or on the imaging window, wherein each micro optical element of the array of micro optical elements:
• (i) focuses a portion of the collimated illumination beam onto a tight focus, and
• (ii) directs back-emitted light from the sample through the collimating lens and towards the beam splitter;
• a detector, the detector comprising an array of detector elements, wherein the back-emitted light directed towards the beam splitter by each element of the array of optical elements of the optical chip passes through the beam splitter during imaging such that at least a portion of the back-emitted light is incident on the array of detector elements of the detector;
• and
• a scanning stage comprising a support, a controller, and an actuator,
• wherein:
• the optical chip is attached to the support and the controller and the actuator are operable to move the optical chip along a scan pattern relative to the imaging window and the detector during imaging in order to form an image of the sample,
• wherein the imaging window and the detector are in a fixed relative position.