# US 2013/0280752 A1 · Lens-free tomographic imaging devices and methods

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- Number: US 2013/0280752 A1
- Document ID: US20130280752A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/976,197
- Filed: 2012-01-05
- Published: 2013-10-24
- Earliest claimed: 2011-01-06
- Assignees: The Regents of the University of California
- Inventors: Aydogan Ozcan; Serhan O. Isikman; Waheb Bishara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130280752A1

## CPC

- G01B 9/02047: {using digital holographic imaging, e.g. lensless phase imaging without hologram in the reference path}
- G01B 9/02041: {characterised by particular imaging or detection techniques}
- G01B 9/02091: Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence
- G01N 21/453: {Holographic interferometry (for dimensional measurements G01B9/021 - G01B9/029)}
- G01N 21/4795: {spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium (in vivo A61B)}
- G02B 21/0008: {Microscopes having a simple construction, e.g. portable microscopes}
- G02B 21/06: Means for illuminating specimens
- G02B 21/367: {providing an output produced by processing a plurality of individual source images, e.g. image tiling, montage, composite images, depth sectioning, image comparison}
- G03H 1/0005: {Adaptation of holography to specific applications (holographic optical element G02B5/32; holographic scanner G02B26/106; recognition using holographic mask G06V10/88; holographic memories G11B7/0065, G11C13/042)}
- G03H 1/02: Details {of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording}
- G03H 1/0443: {Digital holography, i.e. recording holograms with digital recording means (holobject computation G03H1/0866)}
- G03H 1/0866: {Digital holographic imaging, i.e. synthesizing holobjects from holograms}
- G03H 1/265: {Angle multiplexing; Multichannel holograms (G03H1/268 takes precedence)}
- G03H 2001/005: {in microscopy, e.g. digital holographic microscope [DHM]}
- G03H 2001/0212: {Light sources or light beam properties (G03H1/06, G03H1/24 take precedence; corresponding details, see subgroups of G03H2222/00)}
- G03H 2001/0447: {In-line recording arrangement}
- G03H 2001/046: {Synthetic aperture}
- G03H 2210/30: 3D object
- G03H 2210/62: Moving object
- G03H 2222/24: Low coherence light normally not allowing valuable record or reconstruction (G03H1/06 takes precedence)
- G03H 2222/34: Multiple light sources
- G03H 2223/16: Optical waveguide, e.g. optical fibre, rod
- G03H 2227/02: Handheld portable device, e.g. holographic camera, mobile holographic display
- G03H 2227/03: Means for moving one component (G03H1/0476, G03H2001/2695 take precedence)
- G03H 2240/56: Resolution
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G03H: HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS (holograms, e.g. point holograms, used as ordinary optical elements G02B5/32; producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects G02B30/00; diffraction-grating systems G02B27/44; systems using moiré fringes G02B27/60; optical logic elements G02F3/00; stereo-photography G03B35/00; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; {stereo-photographic or similar processes G03C9/00}; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D; analogue computers performing mathematical operations with the aid of optical elements G06E3/00; authentication by radiation, of concealed information carried by holograms or diffraction gratings G06K19/16; holographic storage G11B7/0065, G11C13/04; {stereoscopic or other three dimensional effects in television systems H04N13/00})

## Abstract

A system for three dimensional imaging of an object contained within a sample includes an image sensor, a sample holder configured to hold the sample, the sample holder disposed adjacent to the image sensor, and an illumination source comprising partially coherent light. The illumination source is configured to illuminate the sample through at least one of an aperture, fiber-optic cable, or optical waveguide interposed between the illumination source and the sample holder, wherein the illumination source is configured to illuminate the sample through a plurality of different angles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for three dimensional imaging of an object contained within a sample comprising:
an image sensor;
a sample holder configured to hold the sample, the sample holder disposed adjacent to the image sensor;
an illumination source comprising partially coherent light or coherent light, the illumination source configured to illuminate the sample through at least one of an aperture, fiber-optic cable, or optical waveguide interposed between the illumination source and the sample holder, wherein the illumination source is configured to illuminate the sample through a plurality of different angles; and
means for jogging at least one of the aperture, fiber-optic cable, or optical waveguide in a plane substantially parallel with an imaging plane.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the illumination source and a stationary sample holder are moveable relative to each other.

### Claim 3

(canceled)

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sample holder comprises a microfluidic flow cell.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the sample holder is angled with respect to the image sensor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different angles span a range between about −89° to +89°.

### Claim 7

(canceled)

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one digital processor configured to reconstruct a three dimensional image of the sample based on images obtained from illumination at the plurality of different angles.

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the means for jogging comprises at least one of a stepper motor, moveable stage, piezoelectric element, electromagnetic actuator, and solenoid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of angles comprises different angles along the surface of a three dimensional shape.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the illumination source comprises a plurality of individual light sources operatively coupled to a microcontroller configured to selectively activate individual light sources.

### Claim 13

A method of obtaining a three dimensional image of an object contained within a sample comprising:
illuminating a sample holder configured to hold the sample with an illumination source emitting partially coherent light or coherent light at a first angle, the light passing through at least one of an aperture or a fiber-optic cable prior to illuminating the sample;
illuminating the sample holder with the illumination source at different angles, the light passing through the aperture or a fiber-optic cable prior to illuminating the sample;
obtaining, at each angle, a plurality of sub-pixel image frames from an image sensor disposed on an opposing side of the sample holder, wherein the sub-pixel image frames are each obtained by logging at least one of the aperture or fiber-optic cable in a plane substantially parallel to the image sensor;
digitally converting the sub-pixel image frames at each angle into a single higher resolution hologram for each angle;
digitally reconstructing projection images for each angle from the higher resolution holograms; and
digitally back projecting three dimensional tomographic images of the object within the sample.

### Claim 14

(canceled)

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of angles comprise a plurality of angles in a single plane or multiple planes.

### Claim 16

(canceled)

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of angles comprises different angles along the surface of a three dimensional shape.

### Claim 18

(canceled)

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the jogging of the at least one of the aperture or fiber-optic cable is performed by an electromagnetic actuator.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

A method of claim 13 further comprising flowing a sample through a flow cell disposed adjacent to an image sensor.

### Claim 21

(canceled)

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the flow cell is angled with respect to the imaging sensor array.

### Claim 23

(canceled)

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the first and one or more different angles lie along an arc that is slightly angled compared to the flow direction and fall within the range between about −89° to +89°.

### Claim at position 25

25-27. (canceled)

### Claim 28

A portable tomographic imager comprising:
a housing containing a sample holder configured to hold a sample therein;
a plurality of partially coherent or coherent light sources disposed in the housing at varying angles with respect to a first side of the sample, each of the plurality of light sources being coupled to respective waveguides;
a microcontroller operatively connected to the plurality of light sources, the microcontroller configured to selectively activate individual light sources;
an electromagnetic actuator configured to move the waveguides in substantially orthogonal directions; and
an image sensor disposed in the housing on a second opposing side of the sample.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The portable tomographic imager of claim 28, further comprising a color filter interposed between the waveguides and the sample.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The portable tomographic imager of claim 28, further comprising one or more batteries disposed in the housing.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The portable tomographic imager of claim 28, wherein the plurality of partially coherent light sources comprise LEDs or laser diodes.

### Claim at position 30

32-35. (canceled)