US Patent 6867851 Scanning of biological samples

An image detection apparatus comprises a light source and a holding apparatus adapted to hold a substrate on which a biological sample may be mounted. Light from the light source impinges on the biological sample and causes light that is representative of the sample to be emitted from the sample. A light detector is positioned in the path of the emitted light and is scanned across the emitted light. The emitted light may be focused on the light detector with an optical assembly. The emitted light may be generated by chromophores on probes in the biological sample.