Systems, apparatuses, and methods to measure deformability of red blood cells in microfluidic channels

A system, comprising:

• one or more deformability devices having one or more microfluidic channels with at least one cross-sectional dimension smaller than a nominal thickness of a red blood cell, wherein the one or more microfluidic channels with the at least one cross-sectional dimension is configured to deform red blood cells of a blood sample that flow through the one or more microfluidic channels;
• at least one digital holographic imager configured to generate a sequence of digital holography images or videos of the red blood cells of the blood sample that flow through the one or more microfluidic channels;
• and
• at least one processor operationally coupled to the at least one digital holographic imager and configured to:
• receive the sequence of digital holography images or videos;
• and
• analyze the generated sequence of digital holography images or videos to quantify and characterize deformability of the red blood cells that transition through the one or more microfluidic channels.