Microscopy imaging

Abstract

Among other things, an imaging device has a photosensitive array of pixels, and a surface associated with the array is configured to receive a specimen with at least a part of the specimen at a distance from the surface equivalent to less than about half of an average width of the pixels.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus comprising:
 a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements;   a light source configured to illuminate a specimen with light having a first wavelength for imaging by the two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements;   a surface arranged to receive the specimen with at least a portion of the specimen within a distance from the two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements that is less than ten times the first wavelength; and   one or more microlenses between the specimen and the photosensitive elements.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more microlenses have a thickness such that a near-field criterion is satisfied for the specimen and the photosensitive elements. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the surface is arranged to receive the specimen with the distance from the two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements to the at least the portion of the specimen being less than half an average size of the photosensitive elements. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the surface is arranged to receive the specimen with the distance from the two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements to the at least the portion of the specimen being less than five times the first wavelength. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more microlenses comprises a pixel-by-pixel array of microlenses. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the one or more microlenses comprise an insulating material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  in which the insulating material comprises an oxide. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  in which the insulating material comprises a nitride. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  in which the insulating material comprises at least one of a fluoride or an oxynitride. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the one or more microlenses comprise a dielectric material. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 an imaging sensor comprising an array of photosensitive pixels;   a specimen surface at or adjacent to the array of photosensitive pixels, the specimen surface configured to receive a specimen for imaging by the imaging sensor;   a cover opposing the specimen surface, the cover defining a chamber for the specimen between the cover and the specimen surface; and   one or more electrodes arranged to contact the specimen when the specimen is disposed on the specimen surface, the one or more electrodes configured to apply a potential to the specimen.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprise a cover electrode at the cover. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprise a surface electrode at the specimen surface. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the specimen surface comprises a conductive layer configured to function as the surface electrode. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the conductive layer has a thickness less than 350 nm. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprise:
 a cover electrode at the cover, and   a surface electrode at the specimen surface,   wherein the cover electrode and the surface electrode are configured to apply the potential across a depth of the specimen.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprise a plurality of electrodes arranged in a matrix. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , comprising a device configured to apply the potential, wherein the plurality of electrodes arranged in the matrix are individually addressable by the device for selective application of the potential. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprise a transparent conductive material. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the transparent conductive material comprises a transparent conductive oxide. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprise a plurality of electrodes arranged along a perimeter of the chamber, the plurality of electrodes configured to apply longitudinal electric fields to the specimen.