A detection module to increase the spatial bandwidth product of a microscope

Capturing biological specimens at large scales with sub-micron resolution is crucial for biomedical research, but conventional cameras often can’t handle the pixel requirements. While most microscopes use motorized stages to move samples and capture images tile by tile, we propose a method that eliminates the need for sample movement. Our approach integrates a scanning mechanism within the microscope’s detection unit, enabling sequential capture of sub-areas of the field of view without physically moving the sample. This “remote scanning” method works with all camera-based microscopes and we demonstrate its effectiveness in both bright-field and epifluorescence microscopy. This technique is ideal for imaging motion-sensitive samples and large biological specimens, as evidenced in this study with millimeter-scale engineered tissues.