Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
10:28
Compact Lens-less Digital Holographic Microscope for MEMS Inspection and Characterization
Published on: July 5, 2016
10.8K
Compact, lensless digital holographic microscope for remote microbiology.
Optics Express
|December 14, 2016
Summary
This study introduces a compact digital holographic microscope for in situ microbial analysis in extreme environments. The robust system achieves 1.5-micron resolution, enabling detection and tracking of prokaryotes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Microscopy
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Investigating microbial life in extreme environments requires advanced imaging techniques.
- Current methods may lack the resolution or portability for remote, in situ studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a compact, robust lensless digital holographic microscope for in situ microbial analysis.
- To achieve high resolution (approx. 1.5 microns) and particle tracking capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a lensless digital holographic microscope.
- Employed radial gradient-index rod lenses to generate high numerical-aperture input beams.
- Tested with bacterial strains of varying sizes to assess detection and tracking.
Main Results:
- Achieved approximately 1.5-micron resolution.
- Demonstrated the capability to detect and track prokaryotes.
- Observed diverse motions in larger bacterial strains and detected smaller strains.
Conclusions:
- The developed microscope is suitable for remote deployment in extreme environments.
- This technology enables in situ investigation of microbial life at micron scales.
- The system offers a robust solution for microbial detection and motion analysis.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology
947
Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...
947
01:18Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy
12.0K
Optical microscopy uses optic principles to provide detailed images of samples. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek designed the first compound optical microscope in the 17th century to visualize blood cells, bacteria, and yeast cells. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes with enhanced magnification and resolution.
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
12.0K
01:16Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
21.6K
Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...
21.6K
01:37Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
14.7K
Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been...
14.7K
01:29Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology
1.8K
Two-dimensional (2D) microscopy encompasses a range of optical techniques that capture images within a single focal plane, offering detailed representations of microscopic structures. These techniques are essential in biological and medical research, enabling the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures with different levels of contrast and specificity.There are several major types of 2D microscopy, each with strengths and applications.Bright-Field MicroscopyBright-field microscopy...
1.8K
01:22Overview of Microscopy Techniques
17.5K
The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...
17.5K