Illumination apparatus and methods for a biological growth plate scanner

An illumination apparatus for illuminating biological growth plates in a biological growth plate scanner, the apparatus comprising:

• a plate support surface comprising a first side and a second side located opposite from the first side;
• a first illumination module oriented to illuminate a first portion of the plate support surface, wherein the first illumination module comprises:
• a homogenization cavity comprising an interior surface, wherein the interior surface is diffusely reflective, wherein the interior surface of the homogenization cavity comprises a tube that comprises a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the homogenization cavity, and wherein the longitudinal axis is aligned with the first side of the plate support surface;
• an illumination source operably connected to the homogenization cavity, wherein the illumination source emits light into the homogenization cavity;
• an extraction element in the homogenization cavity through which the light emitted into the homogenization cavity exits from the homogenization cavity, wherein the extraction element comprises a length aligned with the longitudinal axis, and wherein the illumination source, the interior surface of the homogenization cavity, and the extraction element are arranged such that the light emitted into the homogenization cavity by the illumination source reflects from the interior surface of the homogenization cavity at least once before exiting the homogenization cavity through the extraction element;
• a concentration element disposed outside the homogenization cavity and operably connected to the homogenization cavity and arranged such that the light exiting the homogenization cavity through the extraction element must pass through the concentration element;
• wherein the light passing through the concentration element from the extraction element exits from the concentration element within a selected angular range α (alpha) of 60 degrees or less;
• wherein the light exiting the homogenization cavity comprises a central emission axis within a center of the angular range α (alpha), wherein a line extending from the homogenization cavity along the central emission axis is directly incident on the plate support surface.