Compact system design based on digital in-line holographic microscopy configuration

Abstract

We present our study regarding a compact system design for cell counting and simultaneous 3D imaging, based on digital in-line holographic microscopy configuration. The system is built around the known experimental configuration which includes a pinhole but we also investigate the configuration with a monomode fiber as a light source. Considered samples consist of a very low concentration of cells in flow in a microchannel. The main challenge in our design is to obtain the digital hologram of one cell on a regular video camera sensor in proper resolution conditions, as opposed to the usual configurations where the aim is to visualize a large area. This fact is possible with shorter distances between pinhole and sample and with pinholes with diameters slightly larger than 1micron. These can now be realized by considering the microtechnological processes for microchannel and pinhole fabrication on the same substrate with high refractive index - to increase the numerical aperture of the system The geometrical parameters are established after the numerical analysis of the diffracted field from a single cell and of the entire system numerical aperture values.

Keywords

• digital in-line holographic microscopy
• microchannel
• red blood cells
• counting
• screening
• microtechnology