LIFTOSCOPE: development of an automated AI-based module for time-effective and contactless analysis and isolation of cells in microtiter plates.

Background: The cultivation, analysis, and isolation of single cells or cell cultures are fundamental to modern biological and medical processes. The novel LIFTOSCOPE technology aims to integrate analysis and isolation into one versatile, fully automated device.

Methods: LIFTOSCOPE's three core technologies are high-speed microscopy for rapid full-surface imaging of cell culture vessels, AI-based semantic segmentation of microscope images for localization and evaluation of cells, and laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) for contact-free isolation of cells and cell clusters.

Interferometric Imaging of Solvent Vapor of Evaporating Liquid Films.

The liquid deposition of thin films requires a thorough understanding of the underlying drying process, as it is an essential subprocess, where many defects may arise. To complement experimental studies, the present study uses a laser Michelson interferometer to visualize the vapor cloud of evaporating liquid films. The recorded interferometric patterns are evaluated using windowed Fourier filtering and a novel phase-unwrapping algorithm to allow for a robust analysis.