High-Precision Lensless Microscope on a Chip Based on In-Line Holographic Imaging

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Imaging
• Microscopy

Background:

• Lensless on-chip microscopy offers a portable, low-cost alternative to traditional microscopes, crucial for remote diagnostics.
• Existing lensless systems often suffer from low resolution, limiting their diagnostic capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-precision lensless microscope on a chip.
• To enhance resolution beyond traditional lensless shadow imaging.
• To enable accurate identification and counting of biological samples for point-of-care testing.

Main Methods:

• Utilized in-line holographic technology for imaging.
• Applied iterative phase recovery algorithms to reconstruct high-resolution images.
• Employed machine learning for automated identification and counting of mixed cell and micro-particle samples.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 1.41x resolution improvement compared to traditional lensless shadow imaging.
• Demonstrated high-precision counting of mixed samples (mouse ascites tumor cells and micro-particles).
• Validated image quality using objective evaluation algorithms.

Conclusions:

• The proposed high-precision lensless microscope on a chip is a promising solution for point-of-care testing (POCT).
• In-line holographic imaging combined with iterative phase recovery enhances resolution and diagnostic potential.
• The system's accuracy in cell counting supports its application in disease diagnosis and monitoring.