High throughput three-dimensional imaging cytometry based on single-shot optical diffraction tomography system

Optical diffraction tomography (ODT) has demonstrated its potential for revealing subcellular structures and quantitative compositions in living cells without chemical staining. Recently, we developed a deep-learning based algorithm to reconstruct the 3D refractive index (RI) maps of cells using a single raw interferogram, measured from an angle-multiplexed ODT system. Using this system, we demonstrated a high throughput 3D image cytometry method, in which a microfluidic chip for controlling cell flow is integrated in the ODT system. By flowing the cells in the chip and minimizing the camera exposure time, we can achieve 3D imaging of over 6,000 cells per second.