Abstract: A lens-free system for the three-dimensional imaging of objects contained within a sample places a sample holder between an image sensor and an illumination source, with the sample-sensor distance being much smaller than the sample-illumination source distance. Holographic images are taken at different angles as well as different lateral jogs within a single angle and are reconstructed into a three dimensional image of objects within the sample. The system may be a hand held, portable unit.

Abstract: A system for three dimensional imaging of motile objects includes an image sensor and a sample holder disposed adjacent to the image sensor. A first illumination source is provided and has a first wavelength and positioned relative to the sample holder at a first location to illuminate the sample. A second illumination source is also provided having a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, and positioned relative to the sample holder at a second location, different from the first location, to illuminate the sample. The first and second illumination sources are configured to simultaneously, or alternatively, sequentially illuminate the sample contained within the sample holder. Three dimensional positions of the motile objects in each frame are obtained based on digitally reconstructed projection images of the mobile objects obtained from the first and second illumination sources. This positional data is connected for each frame to obtain 3D trajectories of motile objects.

Abstract: A method of forming nanolenses for imaging includes providing an optically transparent substrate having a plurality of particles disposed on one side thereof. The optically transparent substrate is located within a chamber containing therein a reservoir holding a liquid solution. The liquid solution is heated to form a vapor within the chamber, wherein the vapor condenses on the substrate to form nanolenses around the plurality of particles. The particles are then imaged using an imaging device. The imaging device may be located in the same device that contains the reservoir or a separate imaging device.

Abstract: The concentration of mercury in a sample is measured by a reader secured to a camera-containing mobile electronic device. The reader has holders for sample and control solutions. First and second light sources emitting light at different colors illuminate the sample and control holders. Each holder contains gold nanoparticles, thymine-rich aptamers, and sodium chloride. The light sources illuminate the sample and control holders. An image is captured of the transmitted light through the sample and control holders, wherein the image comprises two control regions of interest and two sample regions of interest. The device calculates the intensity of the two control regions of interest and the two sample regions of interest and generates intensity ratios for the sample and control, respectively, at each color. The device calculates a normalized color ratio based on the intensity ratios and outputs a concentration of mercury based on the normalized color ratio.

Abstract: A scanning system for fluorescent imaging includes a sample holder configured to hold a sample therein, the sample holder defining a sample holding region. A scanner head spans the sample holding region and is movable relative to the sample holder. An array of light sources is disposed on an opposing side of the sample holder and is angled relative thereto. Respective controller are operably coupled to the scanner head and the array of light sources, wherein one controller selectively actuates a one or more rows of the array of light sources and another controller controls movement of the scanner head to capture fluorescent light emitted from within the sample holder in response to illumination from the actuated light sources. A filter designed to filter out scattered light from the sample may be interposed between the sample holder and the scanner head.

Abstract: An imaging device uses a fiber optic faceplate (FOF) with a compressive sampling algorithm for the fluorescent imaging of a sample over an large field-of-view without the need for any lenses or mechanical scanning. The imaging device includes a sample holder configured to hold a sample and a prism or hemispherical glass surface disposed adjacent the sample holder on a side opposite the lower surface of the sample holder. A light source is configured to illuminate the sample via the prism or the hemispherical surface, wherein substantially all of the light is subject to total internal reflection at the lower surface of the sample holder. The FOF is disposed adjacent to the lower surface of the sample holder, the fiber optic array having an input side and an output side. The device includes an imaging sensor array disposed adjacent to the output side of the fiber optic array.

Abstract: A field-portable fluorescence imaging platform is disclosed that is installed on mobile communications device for imaging of individual nanoparticles or microparticles such as viruses, bacterial, and the like using a light-weight and compact opto-mechanical attachment or housing configured to be removably secured to the mobile communication device. The housing includes a sample holder configured to hold a sample along with a light source and a lens or lens system that is positioned generally opposite the lens in the mobile communication device. An optical filter is disposed in the housing and is interposed between the lens of the housing and the lens of the mobile communication device. A z-adjust stage is disposed in the housing and coupled to the sample holder, the z-adjust stage is configured to adjust the position of the sample holder in a z direction along an optical path passing through the lenses and onto an image sensor contained in the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A lensfree imaging and sensing device includes an image sensor comprising an array of pixels and a substantially optically transparent layer disposed above the image sensor. Nano-sized features that support surface plasmon waves are populated on the substantially optically transparent layer separating the image sensor from the nano-sized features. The nano-sized features may include apertures through a substantially optically opaque layer (e.g., metal layer) or they may include antennas. An illumination source is provided that is configured to illuminate a sample. At least one processor is operatively coupled to the image sensor. Changes to the detected transmission pattern at the image sensor are used to sense conditions at or near the surface containing the nano-sized features. Conditions may include binding events or other changes to the index of refraction occurring near the surface of the device.

Abstract: A method utilizes an optical image processing system. The method includes calculating a product of (i) a measured magnitude of a Fourier transform of a complex transmission function of an object or optical image and (ii) an estimated phase term of the Fourier transform of the complex transmission function. The method further includes calculating an inverse Fourier transform of the product, wherein the inverse Fourier transform is a spatial function. The method further includes calculating an estimated complex transmission function by applying at least one constraint to the inverse Fourier transform.

Abstract: A system for three dimensional imaging of motile objects includes an image sensor and a sample holder disposed adjacent to the image sensor. A first illumination source is provided and has a first wavelength and positioned relative to the sample holder at a first location to illuminate the sample. A second illumination source is also provided having a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, and positioned relative to the sample holder at a second location, different from the first location, to illuminate the sample. The first and second illumination sources are configured to simultaneously, or alternatively, sequentially illuminate the sample contained within the sample holder. Three dimensional positions of the motile objects in each frame are obtained based on digitally reconstructed projection images of the mobile objects obtained from the first and second illumination sources. This positional data is connected for each frame to obtain 3D trajectories of motile objects.

Abstract: Wide-field fluorescent imaging on a mobile device having a camera is accomplished with a compact, light-weight and inexpensive optical components that are mechanically secured to the mobile device in a removable housing. Battery powered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) contained in the housing pump the sample of interest from the side using butt-coupling, where the pump light is guided within the sample holder to uniformly excite the specimen. The fluorescent emission from the sample is then imaged using an additional lens that is positioned adjacent to the existing lens of the mobile device. A color filter is sufficient to create the dark-field background required for fluorescent imaging, without the need for expensive thin-film interference filters.

Abstract: A method of imaging a sample includes depositing a droplet containing the sample on a substrate, the sample having a plurality of particles contained within a fluid. The substrate is then tilted to gravitationally drive the droplet to an edge of the substrate while forming a dispersed monolayer of particles having liquid lenses surrounding the particles. A plurality of lower resolution images of the particles contained on the substrate are obtained, wherein the substrate is interposed between an illumination source and an image sensor, wherein each lower resolution image is obtained at discrete spatial locations. The plurality of lower resolution images of the particles are converted into a higher resolution image. At least one of an amplitude image and a phase image of the particles contained within the sample is then reconstructed. In some embodiments, only a single lower resolution image may be sufficient.

Abstract: A portable rapid diagnostic test reader system includes a mobile phone having a camera and one or more processors contained within the mobile phone and a modular housing configured to mount to the mobile phone. The modular housing including a receptacle configured to receive a sample tray holding a rapid diagnostic test. At least one illumination source is disposed in the modular housing and located on one side of the rapid diagnostic test. An optical demagnifier is disposed in the modular housing interposed between the rapid diagnostic test and the mobile phone camera.

Abstract: A system for imaging a cytological sample includes a sample holder configured to hold a cytological sample. A spatial filter is disposed at a distance z1 from the sample holder on first side of the sample holder, the spatial filter having an aperture disposed therein configured to allow the passage of illumination. An imaging sensor array is disposed at a distance z2 from the sample holder on a second, opposite side of the sample holder. An illumination source is configured to illuminate the cytological sample through the aperture, the spatial filter being interposed between the illumination source and the sample holder.

Abstract: A portable rapid diagnostic test reader system includes a mobile phone having a camera and one or more processors contained within the mobile phone and a modular housing configured to mount to the mobile phone. The modular housing including a receptacle configured to receive a sample tray holding a rapid diagnostic test. At least one illumination source is disposed in the modular housing and located on one side of the rapid diagnostic test. An optical demagnifier is disposed in the modular housing interposed between the rapid diagnostic test and the mobile phone camera.

Abstract: An apparatus and method process optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging data from a sample. The method includes using a magnitude spectrum and an estimated phase term of a complex spatial Fourier transform of a complex intermediate function to generate an estimated complex spatial Fourier transform. The method further includes calculating an inverse Fourier transform of the estimated complex spatial Fourier transform and calculating an estimated intermediate function by applying at least one constraint to the inverse Fourier transform. The apparatus includes a partially reflective element configured to reflect a first portion of light and to allow a second portion of light to propagate through the partially reflective element and to reflect from the sample. The apparatus further includes a detector that measures the OCT power spectrum in response to the first and second portions of light.

Abstract: A system for imaging objects within a sample includes an image sensor and a sample holder configured to hold the sample, the sample holder disposed adjacent to the image sensor. The system further includes an illumination source configured to scan in two or three dimensions relative to the sensor array and illuminate the sample at a plurality of different locations. The illumination source may include, by way of example, LEDs, laser diodes, or even a screen or display from a portable electronic device. The system includes least one processor configured to reconstruct an image of the sample based on the images obtained from illumination source at the plurality of different scan positions.

Abstract: A method of imaging includes illuminating a sample spaced apart from an image sensor at a multiple distances. Image frames of the sample obtained at each distance are registered to one another and lost phase information from the registered higher resolution image frames is iteratively recovered. Amplitude and/or phase images of the sample are reconstructed based at least in part on the recovered lost phase information.

Abstract: A compact and light-weight lens-free platform to conduct automated semen analysis is disclosed. The device employs holographic on-chip imaging and does not require any lenses, lasers or other bulky optical components to achieve phase and amplitude imaging of sperm a relatively large field-of-view with an effective numerical aperture of approximately 0.2. A series of digital image frames is obtained of the sample. Digital subtraction of the consecutive lens-free frames, followed by processing of the reconstructed phase images, enables automated quantification of the count, the speed and the dynamic trajectories of motile sperm, while summation of the same frames permits counting of immotile sperm.

Abstract: A method of imaging a sample includes forming a monolayer wetting layer over a sample containing objects therein. A plurality of lower resolution images are obtained of the sample interposed between an illumination source and an image sensor, wherein each lower resolution image is obtained at discrete spatial locations. The plurality of lower resolution images of the sample are converted into a higher resolution image. One or more of an amplitude image and a phase image are reconstructed of the objects contained within the sample.