All-optical classification of real biomedical cell images using a diffractive neural network: a simulation study

We report an in-silico demonstration of an all-optical cell classification system using a single-layer diffractive neural network (DNN) optimized for real-world biomedical images. Implemented virtually with a spatial light modulator (SLM), the DNN was numerically trained via backpropagation to differentiate breast cells, lung cancer cells, and white blood cells. The training utilized experimentally acquired phase and amplitude images from optofluidic time-stretch quantitative phase imaging. Classification was simulated by computing the optical intensities at the detection plane. The optimized DNN achieved 96.1% accuracy, approaching that of conventional convolutional neural networks. This study highlights the potential of SLM-based DNNs for ultrafast, energy-efficient biomedical image processing in practical optical computing scenarios.