Dynamic imaging of biological cells and other subjects

A method for detecting dynamic changes that occur in a sample between a first time interval and a second time interval using a series of at least first and second sequential chemical images of the sample, wherein the first chemical image corresponds to an image of the sample during a first time interval, and the second chemical image corresponds to an image of the sample at a second time interval after the first time interval, the method comprising:

• (a) during the first time interval:
• (i) illuminating the sample with a plurality of photons to thereby produce photons scattered or emitted by the sample;
• (ii) using a two-dimensional array of detection elements to simultaneously detect scattered or emitted photons in a first predetermined wavelength band from different locations on or within the sample;
• and
• (iii) separately repeating step (a)(ii) for each of a plurality of further different predetermined wavelength bands;
• (b) combining the results of steps (a)(ii) and (a)(iii) to generate the first chemical image of the sample;
• (c) during the second time interval:
• (i) illuminating the sample with a plurality of photons to thereby produce photons scattered or emitted by the sample;
• (ii) using the two-dimensional array of detection elements to simultaneously detect scattered or emitted photons in the first predetermined wavelength band from different locations on or within the sample;
• and
• (iii) separately repeating step (c)(ii) for each of the plurality of further different predetermined wavelength bands;
• (d) combining the results of steps (c)(ii) and (c)(iii) to generate the second chemical image of the sample;
• and
• (e) detecting dynamic changes occurring in the sample between the first time interval and the second time interval based on one or more differences between the first and second chemical images.

A system for detecting dynamic changes that occur in a sample between a first time interval and a second time interval using a series of at least first and second sequential chemical images of the sample, wherein the first chemical image corresponds to an image of the sample during a first time interval, and the second chemical image corresponds to an image of the sample at a second time interval after the first time interval, comprising:

• (a) a source that illuminates the sample with a plurality of photons to thereby produce photons scattered or emitted by the sample;
• (b) a two-dimensional array of detection elements that, during the first time interval, (i) simultaneously detects scattered or emitted photons in a first predetermined wavelength band from different locations on or within the sample, and (ii) thereafter, for each of a plurality of further different predetermined wavelength bands, simultaneously detects scattered or emitted photons from different locations on or within the sample;
• (c) a processor that combines the outputs of the two-dimensional array of detection elements during the first time interval to generate the first chemical image of the sample;
• (d) wherein, during the second time interval, the two-dimensional array of detection elements (i) simultaneously detects scattered or emitted photons in the first predetermined wavelength band from different locations on or within the sample, and (ii) thereafter, for each of the plurality of further different predetermined wavelength bands, simultaneously detects scattered or emitted photons from different locations on or within the sample;
• (e) wherein the processor combines the outputs of the two-dimensional array of detection elements during the second time interval to generate the second chemical image of the sample;
• and
• (f) wherein the processor detects dynamic changes occurring in the sample between the first time interval and the second time interval based on one or more differences between the first and second chemical images.