Imaging system comprising a sample moving unit and at least one illumination optic and imaging method

A method for imaging a sample by means of an imaging system, comprising:

• moving the sample in a sample space along a movement direction;
• illuminating the sample with at least one illumination optic having an illumination optical axis that encloses a first angle with the movement direction within the range of 70° to 110°, and that encloses a second angle with the detection optical axis of at least one detection optic within the range of 70° to 110°, wherein the at least one illumination optic comprises a first illumination optic and a second illumination optic, and wherein a second illumination optical axis of the second illumination optic encloses a seventh angle with the movement direction within a range of 70° to 110°, and encloses an eighth angle with the illumination optical axis of the first illumination optic being smaller than 20°;
• and
• capturing at least one image of the sample with the at least one detection optic having the detection axis that encloses a third angle with the movement direction within the range of 20° to 70°;
• wherein the detection optical axis of the at least one detection optic and the movement direction define a first plane;
• wherein the illumination optical axis of the at least one illumination optic and the movement direction define a second plane;
• and wherein the first and second planes intersect and are different.

An imaging system for imaging a sample, comprising:

• a sample moving unit configured to move the sample in a sample space along a movement direction;
• at least one detection optic comprising:
• a detection optical axis that encloses a first angle with the movement direction within a range of 20° to 70°, the detection optical axis of the at least one detection optic and the movement direction defining a first plane,
• a first detection optic, and
• a second detection optic;
• at least one illumination optic comprising an illumination optical axis that encloses a second angle with the movement direction within a range of 70° to 110°, and that encloses a third angle with the detection optical axis of the at least one detection optic within a range of 70° to 110°, the illumination optical axis of the at least one illumination optic and the movement direction defining a second plane, the first and second planes intersecting and being different;
• and
• a light sheet illumination unit configured to:
• generate at least one first light sheet by directing illumination light through the at least one illumination optic into the sample space for illuminating an object plane of the detection optic,
• generate a second light sheet by directing the illumination light through the at least one illumination optic into the sample space, and
• alternatingly illuminate a first object plane of the first detection optic with the first light sheet and illuminate a second object plane of the second detection optic with the second light sheet.

An imaging system for imaging a sample, comprising:

• a sample moving unit configured to move the sample in a sample space along a movement direction;
• at least one detection optic comprising a detection optical axis that encloses a first angle with the movement direction within a range of 20° to 70°, the detection optical axis of the at least one detection optic and the movement direction defining a first plane;
• at least one illumination optic comprising an illumination optical axis that encloses a second angle with the movement direction within a range of 70° to 110°, and that encloses a third angle with the detection optical axis of the at least one detection optic within a range of 70° to 110°, the illumination optical axis of the at least one illumination optic and the movement direction defining a second plane, the first and second planes intersecting and being different;
• and
• a light sheet illumination unit configured to:
• generate at least one first light sheet by directing illumination light through the at least one illumination optic into the sample space for illuminating an object plane of the at least one detection optic, and
• alternatingly direct the illumination light through a first illumination optic into the sample space for illuminating an object plane of the at least one detection optic with the at least one first light sheet, and through a second illumination optic into the sample space for illuminating the object plane of the at least one detection optic with the at least one first light sheet.

An imaging system for imaging a sample, comprising:

• a sample moving unit configured to move the sample in a sample space along a movement direction, and wherein the sample moving unit comprises a sample carrier or a flow cell defining the sample space;
• at least one detection optic comprising a detection optical axis that encloses a first angle with the movement direction within a range of 20° to 70°, the detection optical axis of the at least one detection optic and the movement direction defining a first plane;
• and
• at least one illumination optic comprising an illumination optical axis that encloses a second angle with the movement direction within a range of 70° to 110°, and that encloses a third angle with the detection optical axis of the at least one detection optic within a range of 70° to 110°, the illumination optical axis of the at least one illumination optic and the movement direction defining a second plane, the first and second planes intersecting and being different,
• wherein the sample carrier or the flow cell comprises an optical medium in which the sample is received, the optical medium having a first refractive index, wherein the sample carrier or the flow cell further comprises at least one window portion defining two parallel surfaces that comprises an optically transparent material having a second refractive index, and that is arranged at at least one of a front side or a back side or a bottom side of the sample carrier, and
• wherein the first and second refractive indices do not deviate by more than 2.5%.