Dual-mode raster point scanning/light sheet illumination microscope

A dual-mode imaging microscope comprising:

• an excitation source, said excitation source being capable of producing an excitation beam, and being disposed such that the excitation beam is directed along at least one excitation beam path, wherein the at least one excitation beam path is provided with a scanning optic capable of scanning said excitation beam in at least two dimensions;
• a sample holder in optical communication with said excitation source such that a sample contained therein is excited by said excitation beam;
• a light scanning microscope unit comprising:
• a light scanning microscope excitation optic capable of focusing the scanned excitation beam on the sample holder such that a sample within the sample holder is raster-scanned in a pre-determined path, and
• a light scanning microscope detector defining at least one light scanning detection focal plane and capable of detecting an excitation generated signal contrast from the sample within the sample holder, the light scanning microscope detector being disposed such that the axis of detection of the at least one light scanning detection focal plane is substantially parallel to the excitation beam path as it intersects the sample;
• a light sheet microscope unit comprising;
• a light sheet microscope excitation optic capable of using the scanned excitation beam to produce a substantially two-dimensional sample excitation region having an effectively uniform excitation intensity which extends in the direction of an excitation axis of the excitation beam path and transversely thereto and intersects with at least a portion of the sample holder, and
• a light sheet microscope detector defining at least one light sheet detection focal plane and capable of detecting an excitation generated signal contrast from the sample excitation region, the light sheet microscope detector being disposed such that the axis of detection of the at least one light sheet detection focal plane is substantially orthogonal to the sample excitation region;
• and
• an optical relay disposed downstream of said scanning optic, said optical relay capable of being removably interposed into the excitation beam path, such that said excitation beam may be directed either toward the light scanning microscope excitation optic or the light sheet microscope excitation optic.