Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an imaging system for imaging a sample immersed in a controlled environment. The system comprises—at least one enclosure configured to hold at least one imaging sensor or camera inside the enclosure, the enclosure including at least one opening and at least one transparent window for imaging the sample; and—a flexible channel comprising a first extremity and a second extremity, the first extremity being connected to the enclosure at said at least one opening and the second extremity being configured to be connected to a wall of the hermetic chamber, the flexible channel defining or enclosing a passage extending through the flexible channel and to or into the enclosure.

Abstract: An optical fiber splitter device comprising at least two optical fibers of different lengths is disclosed for partial or complete compensation of the optical path difference between waves interfering to generate a hologram or an interferogram. Various implementations of this fiber splitter device are described in apparatuses for holographic and interferometric imaging of microscopic and larger samples.

Abstract: An optical fiber splitter device comprising at least two optical fibers of different lengths is disclosed for partial or complete compensation of the optical path difference between waves interfering to generate a hologram or an interferogram. Various implementations of this fiber splitter device are described in apparatuses for holographic and interferometric imaging of microscopic and larger samples.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for monitoring and measuring matter and energy fluxes by use of devices able to detect refractive index changes. In one aspect, apparatus use an interference between two electromagnetic radiations in order to provide high sensitivity, enabling fluxes monitoring at the microscopic scale, by measuring phase changes or Optical Path Length (OPL) changes. In one aspect, methods are provided for monitoring and measuring the electrical activity of a biological cells, simultaneously on several cells, without use of electrodes and contrast agents.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring through optical means temporally resolved, optical properties, and/or phenotypes, linked to cellular homeostasis. Those temporal measurements enable the detection of cell regulation through various channels linked to homeostasis, in order to assess cell viability or early cell death through rapid diagnostic.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for monitoring and measuring matter and energy fluxes by use of devices able to detect refractive index changes. In one aspect, apparatus use an interference between two electromagnetic radiations in order to provide high sensitivity, enabling fluxes monitoring at the microscopic scale, by measuring phase changes or Optical Path Length (OPL) changes. In one aspect, methods are provided for monitoring and measuring the electrical activity of a biological cells, simultaneously on several cells, without use of electrodes and contrast agents.

Abstract: A new way of mixing instrumental and digital means is described for the general field of wave front sensing. The present invention describes the use, the definition and the utility of digital operators, called digital wave front operators (DWFO) or digital lenses (DL), specifically designed for the digital processing of wave fronts defined in amplitude and phase. DWFO are of particular interest for correcting undesired wave front deformations induced by instrumental defects or experimental errors. DWFO may be defined using a mathematical model, e.g. a polynomial function, which involves coefficients. The present invention describes automated and semi-automated procedures for calibrating or adjusting the values of these coefficients. These procedures are based on the fitting of mathematical models on reference data extracted from specific regions of a wave front called reference areas, which are characterized by the fact that specimen contributions are a priori known in reference areas.

Abstract: A new way of mixing instrumental and digital means is described for the general field of wave front sensing. The present invention describes the use, the definition and the utility of digital operators, called digital wave front operators (DWFO) or digital lenses (DL), specifically designed for the digital processing of wave fronts defined in amplitude and phase. DWFO are of particular interest for correcting undesired wave front deformations induced by instrumental defects or experimental errors. DWFO may be defined using a mathematical model, e.g. a polynomial function, which involves coefficients. The present invention describes automated and semi-automated procedures for calibrating or adjusting the values of these coefficients. These procedures are based on the fitting of mathematical models on reference data extracted from specific regions of a wave front called reference areas, which are characterized by the fact that specimen contributions are a priori known in reference areas.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for performing digital holographic imaging (DHI), said DHI being characterized by the fact that images of a sample are obtained by applying numerical means to reconstruct holograms of the sample. In the method of the invention, the sample is in a medium with controlled properties that influence the behaviour of the sample, and/or that influence the process of hologram formation. The information content of one hologram, or of a plurality of holograms, recorded with the sample in one medium, or in a plurality of medium, is used to reconstruct one image of the sample, or a plurality of images of the sample, that describe quantitatively one property of the sample, or a plurality of properties of the sample. The present invention is also related to an apparatus with which to perform said method.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for performing digital holographic imaging (DHI), said DHI being characterized by the fact that images of a sample are obtained by applying numerical means to reconstruct holograms of the sample. In the method of the invention, the sample is in a medium with controlled properties that influence the behaviour of the sample, and/or that influence the process of hologram formation. The information content of one hologram, or of a plurality of holograms, recorded with the sample in one medium, or in a plurality of medium, is used to reconstruct one image of the sample, or a plurality of images of the sample, that describe quantitatively one property of the sample, or a plurality of properties of the sample. The present invention is also related to an apparatus with which to perform said method.

Abstract: A method for the numerical reconstruction of digital holograms which allows simultaneously amplitude and quantitative phase contrast imaging. The reconstruction method computes the propagation of the field that would be diffracted by the hologram during a standard hologram reconstruction. The method requires the adjustment of several reconstruction parameters for the definition of a digital replica of the reference wave. When the set-up used for the hologram creation produces phase aberrations, the method includes a digital method for the correction of the phase aberrations. The phase contrast image is quantitative, meaning that the reconstructed phase distribution can be used for quantitative measurements. The method can be used to reconstruct a set of holograms taken in different conditions. The method can be used to reconstruct several images from a single hologram taken with more than one reference waves and/or more than one object waves.