Lens-free holographic optical system for high sensitivity label-free cell and microbial growth detection and quantification for screening, identification, and susceptibility training

An in-line holographic optical system comprising:

• a) a reference beam source;
• b) a sample receptacle below the reference beam source;
• c) an optical sensor below the sample receptacle;
• and
• d) a controller coupled to the optical sensor.

An in-line holographic system comprising:

• a) a reference beam source;
• b) an illumination source adjacent to the reference beam source;
• c) a sample receptacle below the illumination source;
• d) an optical sensor below the sample receptacle;
• and
• e) a hologram controller coupled to the optical sensor.

A system for tracking a detected variation over time, comprising:

• a. a light source;
• b. an optical sensor below the light source;
• and
• c. a hologram controller coupled to the optical sensor the wherein the controller includes at least one processor and one or more computer-readable storage media including stored instructions that, responsive to execution by the at least one processor, cause the controller to determine a variation over time of an in-line hologram.

A computer-implemented machine for characterizing a plurality of particles, comprising

• a. a processor;
• and
• b. a tangible computer-readable medium operatively connected to the processor and including computer code configured to:
• i) generate an in-line hologram of a first particle of the plurality of particles at a first time;
• and
• ii) generate an in-line hologram of a second particle of the plurality of particles at a second time;
• and
• iii) determine a variation over time of the in-line hologram.

A computer-implemented machine for differentiating a plurality of particles from bacteria, comprising

• a. a processor;
• and
• b. a tangible computer-readable medium operatively connected to the processor and including computer code configured to:
• i) generate an in-line hologram of a first particle of the plurality of particles at a first time;
• ii) generate an in-line hologram of a first bacteria of the plurality of bacteria at a first time
• iii) generate an in-line hologram of a second particle of the plurality of particles at a second time;
• iv) generate an in-line hologram of a second bacteria of the plurality of bacteria at a second time;
• v) differentiating a plurality of particles from bacteria based on a variation over time of the in-line hologram.