Quantitative phase microscopy: automated background leveling techniques and smart temporal phase unwrapping.

In order for time-dynamic quantitative phase microscopy to yield meaningful data to scientists, raw phase measurements must be converted to sequential time series that are consistently phase unwrapped with minimal residual background shape. Beyond the initial phase unwrapping, additional steps must be taken to convert the phase to time-meaningful data sequences. This consists of two major operations both outlined in this paper and shown to operate robustly on biological datasets.

Quantitative Phase Microscopy: how to make phase data meaningful.

The continued development of hardware and associated image processing techniques for quantitative phase microscopy has allowed superior phase data to be acquired that readily shows dynamic optical volume changes and enables particle tracking. Recent efforts have focused on tying phase data and associated metrics to cell morphology. One challenge in measuring biological objects using interferometrically obtained phase information is achieving consistent phase unwrapping and -dimensions and correct for temporal discrepanices using a temporal unwrapping procedure.

Performance enhancement and background removal to improve dynamic phase imaging of biological organisms.

This paper describes recent advances in enhancing optical imaging performance and removal of background shape for a new, novel interference dynamic microscope system. The specially designed optical system enables instantaneous 4-dimensional video measurements of dynamic motions within and among live cells without the need for labels or contrast agents. This instrument utilizes a pixelated phase mask enabling simultaneous measurement of multiple interference patterns.

Dynamic quantitative phase imaging for biological objects using a pixelated phase mask.

This paper describes research in developing a dynamic quantitative phase imaging microscope providing instantaneous measurements of dynamic motions within and among live cells without labels or contrast agents. It utilizes a pixelated phase mask enabling simultaneous measurement of multiple interference patterns derived using the polarization properties of light to track dynamic motions and morphological changes. Optical path difference (OPD) and optical thickness (OT) data are obtained from phase images.

Dynamic 4-dimensional microscope system with automated background leveling.

This paper describes recent advances in developing an automatic background leveling algorithm for a new, novel interference microscope system and presents images and data of live biological samples. The specially designed optical system enables instantaneous 4-dimensional video measurements of dynamic motions within and among live cells without the need for contrast agents. "Label-free" measurements of biological objects in reflection using harmless light levels are possible without the need for scanning and vibration isolation.