Method and device for high-resolution color imaging using merged images from holographic and lens-based devices

A system for generating color images of a sample using mono-color holographic images of the sample obtained from a holographic microscope and one or more color images of the same sample using a lens-based microscope, the system comprising:

• a computing device configured to receive the mono-color holographic images of the sample obtained from the holographic microscope and the one or more color images of the same sample using a lens-based microscope, the computing device containing one or more processors configured to execute imaging software thereon, the imaging software configured to:
• receive a plurality of low resolution mono-color holographic images of the sample using the holographic microscope at different spatial locations;
• generate a reconstructed high resolution mono-color holographic image of the sample using the plurality of low resolution mono-color holographic images;
• receive one or more low resolution color images of the sample with the lens-based microscope;
• extract a red (R) channel, a green (G) channel, and a blue (B) channel from the one or more low resolution color images of the sample and generating a R channel extracted image, a G channel extracted image, and a B channel extracted image;
• register the R channel extracted image, the G channel extracted image, and the B channel extracted image with the high resolution mono-color holographic image based on spatial features contained in the high resolution mono-color holographic image;
• match the contrast of the high resolution mono-color holographic image to the R channel extracted image, the G channel extracted image, and the B channel extracted image;
• apply discrete wavelet transform (DWT) to the contrast matched high resolution mono-color holographic image and the R channel extracted image, the G channel extracted image, and the B channel extracted image;
• generate respective red, green, and blue fused images using low resolution components from the R channel extracted image, the G channel extracted image, and the B channel extracted image and high resolution components from the high resolution mono-color holographic image;
• apply an inverse wavelet transform onto the respective red, green, and blue fused images to generate a high resolution red, a high resolution green image, and a high resolution blue image;
• and
• generate a composite RGB color image from the high resolution red image, the high resolution green image, and the high resolution blue image.

A system for generating color images of a sample comprising:

• a holographic microscope having a partially coherent light source configured to illuminate the sample and cast mono-color holograms that are captured by an image sensor disposed adjacent to the sample, wherein the holographic microscope comprises an x, y adjuster for imparting relative movement in a plane substantially parallel to an active surface of the image sensor in the x direction and y direction and a z adjuster for imparting relative movement in a z direction that is substantially perpendicular to a plane of the active surface of the image sensor;
• a lens-based microscope having a broadband light source configured to illuminate the sample and at least one lens or lens set disposed along an optical path and an image sensor configured to capture color images of the sample;
• and
• one or more processors configured to execute imaging processing software thereon, the image processing software extracting red (R), green (G), and blue (B) images from the captured colored images and registering the extracted red (R), green (G), and blue (B) images with a reconstructed high resolution mono-color holographic image of the sample generated by a plurality of low resolution mono-color holographic images, imaging software further applying discrete wavelet transformation to the registered high resolution mono-color holographic image and the extracted red (R) image, the extracted green (G) image, and the extracted blue (B) image and generating respective red, green, and blue fused images using low resolution components from the extracted red (R) image, the extracted green (G) image, and the extracted blue (B) image and high resolution components from the high resolution mono-color holographic image, applying an inverse wavelet transform onto the respective red, green, and blue fused images to generate a high resolution red image, a high resolution green image, and a high resolution blue image, and generate a composite RGB color image from the high resolution red image, the high resolution green image, and the high resolution blue image.