Performance enhancement and background removal to improve dynamic phase imaging of biological organisms.

This paper describes recent advances in enhancing optical imaging performance and removal of background shape for a new, novel interference dynamic microscope system. The specially designed optical system enables instantaneous 4-dimensional video measurements of dynamic motions within and among live cells without the need for labels or contrast agents. This instrument utilizes a pixelated phase mask enabling simultaneous measurement of multiple interference patterns. It incorporates the polarization properties of light to capture phase image movies in real time at video rates enabling tracking of dynamic motions and volumetric changes. Optical thickness data are obtained from phase images after processing to remove the background surface shape to quantify changes in cell position and volume. Data from a number of different biological organisms will be presented. These data highlight examples of the optical image quality and image processing.