High-speed phase-shifting common-path quantitative phase imaging with a piezoelectric actuator

Label-free single-shot imaging with on-axis phase-shifting holographic reflectance quantitative phase microscopy

Quantitative phase microscopy (QPM) has been emerged as an indispensable diagnostic and characterization tool in biomedical imaging with its characteristic nature of label-free, noninvasive, and real time imaging modality. The integration of holography to the conventional microscopy opens new advancements in QPM featuring high-resolution and quantitative three-dimensional image reconstruction. However, the holography schemes suffer in space-bandwidth and time-bandwidth issues in the off-axis and phase-shifting configuration, respectively. Here, we introduce an on-axis phase-shifting holography based QPM system with single-shot imaging capability. The technique utilizes the Fizeau interferometry scheme in combination with polarization phase-shifting and space-division multiplexing to achieve the single-shot recording of the multiple phase-shifted holograms. Moreover, the high-speed imaging capability with instantaneous recording of spatially phase shifted holograms offers the flexible utilization of the approach in dynamic quantitative phase imaging with robust phase stability. We experimentally demonstrated the validity of the approach by quantitative phase imaging and depth-resolved imaging of paramecium cells. Furthermore, the technique is applied to the phase imaging and quantitative parameter estimation of red blood cells. This integration of a Fizeau-based phase-shifting scheme to the optical microscopy enables a simple and robust tool for the investigations of engineered and biological specimen with real-time quantitative analysis.

Single-plane and multiplane quantitative phase imaging by self-reference on-axis holography with a phase-shifting method

A new quantitative phase imaging approach is proposed based on self-reference holography. Three on-axis interferograms with different values of the phase filter are superposed. The superposition yields a more accurate phase map of the wavefront emerging from the object, compared with standard off-axis interferometry. Reduced temporal noise levels in the measured phase map and efficient phase recovery process for optically thin and thick transmissive phase objects highlight the applicability of the suggested framework for various fields ranging from metrology to bio-imaging. Qualitative phase imaging is also done online without altering the optical configuration. Qualitative phase detections of multiple planes of interest are converted to quantitative phase maps of the multiplane scene by a rapid phase contrast-based phase retrieval algorithm, from a single camera exposure and with no moving parts in the system.

Spatial light interference microscopy: principle and applications to biomedicine

In this paper, we review spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM), a common-path, phase-shifting interferometer, built onto a phase-contrast microscope, with white-light illumination. As one of the most sensitive quantitative phase imaging (QPI) methods, SLIM allows for speckle-free phase reconstruction with sub-nanometer path-length stability. We first review image formation in QPI, scattering, and full-field methods. Then, we outline SLIM imaging from theory and instrumentation to diffraction tomography. Zernike's phase-contrast microscopy, phase retrieval in SLIM, and halo removal algorithms are discussed. Next, we discuss the requirements for operation, with a focus on software developed in-house for SLIM that enables high-throughput acquisition, whole slide scanning, mosaic tile registration, and imaging with a color camera. We introduce two methods for solving the inverse problem using SLIM, white-light tomography, and Wolf phase tomography. Lastly, we review the applications of SLIM in basic science and clinical studies. SLIM can study cell dynamics, cell growth and proliferation, cell migration, mass transport, etc. In clinical settings, SLIM can assist with cancer studies, reproductive technology, blood testing, etc. Finally, we review an emerging trend, where SLIM imaging in conjunction with artificial intelligence brings computational specificity and, in turn, offers new solutions to outstanding challenges in cell biology and pathology.