High-Resolution Hyperspectral Microscopic Imaging With Single Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter Based on Double Filtering

Abstract

Hyperspectral imaging is a technique that integrates multiple spectral bands and image information. Its applications range from improving the accuracy of cancer diagnosis to testing the quality of products. Here, we introduce a double-filtering technique that provides high-resolution diagnostic histological images within minutes. The hyperspectral microscopic imaging system is built based on an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF). The optimized system is analyzed from the perspective of spectrum and imaging. The spectral resolution can be improved by 37.08 % to 59.95% in the visible light range. The side lobe is obviously inhibited and the purity of spectrum is improved. Furthermore, the example of hyperspectral microscopic imaging is demonstrated with unstained gastric cancer tissue sections to assess the ability of the system in terms of its spectral performances and image quality. The microscopic imaging results of single filtering optical path system and single crystal double filtering optical path system are compared. In general, the optimized double filtering system achieves excellent performance in bandwidth compression and side lobe suppression, especially the first application of hyperspectral microscopy combined with microscope in the visible light range.

Keywords

• Acousto-optical device
• birefringence
• high-resolution imaging
• optical device fabrication