Small-profile lensless optical microscopy imaging and tomography instruments and elements for low cost and integrated microscopy

Abstract

Arrangements for small-sized, inexpensive, and innovative lensless and other micro-optic microscopy imaging and tomography are presented. An imaging region comprising flat or curved surfaces is provided with an illumination source proximate to the imaging region or arranged for collimated illumination. Light travels through the imaging region and produces a resulting light field affected by objects, materials, fluids, organisms, etc. in the light path and is presented to an image sensing surface proximate to the imaging region, responsively creating electrical image signals. The illumination surface can be light emitting elements such as LEDs, OLEDs, or OLET whose illumination can be sequenced in an image formation or tomography process. Light-emission and light detection elements can be printed, permitting extremely low-cost manufacturing and readily accommodating imaging regions having curved shapes. Applications include laboratory instruments, micro-arrays, microplates, flow microscopes, cytometry systems, environmental and contamination monitoring systems, industrial monitoring instruments, food safety systems, and implants.