# US 2024/0418652 A1 · Volumetric Imaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0418652 A1 - Document ID: US20240418652A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/684,081 - Filed: 2022-08-17 - Published: 2024-12-19 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-17 - Applicants: Universitetet I Tromsø - Norges Arktiske Universitet - Inventors: Florian STRÖHL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240418652A1 ## CPC - G01N 21/6458: {Fluorescence microscopy (fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16)} - G02B 21/0076: {arrangements using fluorescence or luminescence} - G01N 21/6454: {using an integrated detector array} - G02B 21/0032: {Optical details of illumination, e.g. light-sources, pinholes, beam splitters, slits, fibers (G02B21/0036 - G02B21/008; means for illumination of specimens in general G02B21/06)} - G02B 21/006: {focusing arrangements; selection of the plane to be imaged} - G02B 21/082: {for incident illumination only} - G02B 21/367: {providing an output produced by processing a plurality of individual source images, e.g. image tiling, montage, composite images, depth sectioning, image comparison} - G02B 27/1066: {for enhancing image performance, like resolution, pixel numbers, dual magnifications or dynamic range, by tiling, slicing or overlapping fields of view} - G01N 2021/1785: {Three dimensional} - G01N 2021/6467: {Axial flow and illumination} - G01N 2201/0648: Shutters - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An apparatus for volumetric imaging is provided. The apparatus comprises an illumination assembly arranged to direct light to illuminate a plurality of planes in a sample region sequentially at an illumination rate, each plane extending over a plurality of depths in the sample region; an image sensor comprising a plurality of sections of pixels and arranged to sense each section of pixels sequentially at a sensing rate; and a light-receiving assembly arranged to receive light from the sample region and to direct light received from each of said planes in the sample region to a different respective section of said sections of pixels. The light-receiving assembly comprises a multi-plane optical assembly arranged to receive light from the plurality of depths in the sample region and, for each section of said sections of pixels, to direct light simultaneously from each of the plurality of depths in the respective plane to a different respective subsection of said section. The illumination rate is equal to the sensing rate, such that each section of pixels is arranged to sense light from the plurality of depths in the respective plane as the plane is illuminated by the illumination assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for volumetric imaging, comprising: an illumination assembly arranged to direct light to illuminate a plurality of planes in a sample region sequentially at an illumination rate, each plane extending over a plurality of depths in the sample region; an image sensor comprising a plurality of sections of pixels and arranged to sense each section of pixels sequentially at a sensing rate; and a light-receiving assembly arranged to receive light from the sample region and to direct light received from each of said planes in the sample region to a different respective section of said sections of pixels, wherein the light-receiving assembly comprises a multi-plane optical assembly arranged to receive light from the plurality of depths in the sample region and, for each section of said sections of pixels, to direct light simultaneously from each of the plurality of depths in the respective plane to a different respective subsection of said section; and wherein the illumination rate is equal to the sensing rate, such that each section of pixels is arranged to sense light from the plurality of depths in the respective plane as the plane is illuminated by the illumination assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged such that each section of pixels senses no light from any plane of the plurality of planes other than said respective plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein them multi-plane optical assembly is arranged to direct light simultaneously from each of at least four depths to different respective subsections of the image sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein them multi-plane optical assembly is arranged to direct light simultaneously from each of at least eight depths to different respective subsections of the image sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multi-plane optical assembly comprises a multi-plane prism or a multi-plane diffraction grating. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image sensor is an electronic image sensor and comprises electronic shutter circuitry arranged to selectively sense from pixels in each section of the image sensor in sequential electronic-shutter periods. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged to volumetrically image the sample region repeatedly over time to generate image data representing a time series of volumes of the sample region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, operable to volumetrically image the sample region at a rate of ten or more volumes per second. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light-receiving assembly comprises an objective lens assembly arranged to pass light emanating from the sample region to the multi-plane optical assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the objective lens assembly also forms part of the illumination assembly and is arranged to pass light from the illumination assembly into the sample region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of planes is inclined to an imaging axis of the objective lens assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illumination assembly is arranged to generate a light sheet and to sweep or step the light sheet across the sample region to illuminate said plurality of planes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of planes are parallel planes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each section consists of a respective contiguous set of pixels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each subsection consists of a respective contiguous set of pixels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the section of pixels comprises a respective line of pixels, and wherein the image sensor is arranged to sense adjacent lines sequentially. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a processing system arranged to receive image data from the image sensor, and configured to process the image data to generate a three-dimensional image data set. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a second image sensor comprising a plurality of sections and arranged to sense sequentially each section of pixels at the sensing rate, wherein the multi-plane optical assembly is arranged to direct light simultaneously from each of a second plurality of depths in the sample region to a respective subsection of each section of pixels of the second image sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged to perform fluorescence volumetric microscopy of a sample in the sample region. ### Claim 20 A method of volumetric imaging, the method comprising: directing light to illuminate a plurality of planes in a sample region sequentially at an illumination rate, each plane extending over a plurality of depths in the sample region; an image sensor comprising a plurality of sections of pixels; and directing light emanating from the sample region to an image sensor, wherein the image sensor comprises a plurality of sections of pixels, wherein light received from each of said planes in the sample region is directed to a different respective section of said sections of pixels, and wherein, for each section of said sections of pixels, light is directed simultaneously from each of the plurality of depths in the respective plane to a different respective subsection of said section; the image sensor sensing each of said sections sequentially at a sensing rate, wherein the sending rate is equal to the illumination rate, such that each section of pixels senses light from the plurality of depths in the respective plane as the plane is illuminated. ### Claim 21 (canceled)