Towards practical cost-effective lens-free imaging

Lens-free holographic microscopy (LHM) is a promising imaging technique for life science and industrial applications, yet system miniaturization and cost reduction without compromising imaging performance remain challenging for field applications in low-resource settings. We demonstrate a cost-effective LHM system without needs for precision optical and mechanical parts (such as lenses, beam-splitters, or kinematic stages) and relies solely on robust optoelectronic hardware and software co-design for high performance imaging. The compact and lightweight form-factor is achieved through integration of light sources, an image sensor and all control electronics with automated calibration and multi-wavelength reconstruction algorithms. Amplitude and phase images of a sample can be reconstructed in a few seconds with a micron level optical resolution in a field-of-view of 16.5 mm(2). The method offers a portable and scalable solution for microscopic imaging applications.