Virtual Slide Technology is a way of simulating the conventional microscopy process using digital imaging systems. The technique achieves this majorly through computer-generated holography or synthetic images that enable users to view detailed information about a sample right from their computer interfaces without any physical material.

Principle

1.Digital holography: Digital holography is a computer-based holographic imaging technology that works by capturing the light field information of the sample and reconstructing its three-dimensional structure. This approach provides depth information and illumination condition of the sample, which accurately reproduces the appearance of sample under any illumination configuration.

2.Synthetic holograms: Synthetic hologram technology enables researchers to directly manipulate electromagnetic wave phase (such as photons) and amplitude using beam sources with features like deformable mirrors or spatial light modulators. This technique is especially good for precise control of shape and wavefront in electron microscopy.

3.Virtual Reflected Light Microscopy (VRLM) system: VRLM can ascertain depth information and illumination cues under different desired illuminations by predicting the shape and reflectivity from a dataset of sample images together with stereogram creation techniques. Such a system may include a microscope, digital camera, motorized stage, and software that automatically collects a large number of VRLM representations of samples and makes them available online.

Applications

1.Education & research: By this way, virtual slide technology enables learners or researchers to investigate distinct biological as well as geological specimens without the physical sample.

2.Remote diagnosis: In medicine, this technology is applicable in remote diagnosis where physical transport of the sample to a distant place is unnecessary because doctors can access the patient’s image samples through network systems.

3.Museums & science exhibitions: Museums together with science exhibits can apply virtual slide technology in displaying large or delicate specimens that cannot be put on display physically.

4.Industrial inspection: In industry, virtual slide technology used in quality control enables engineers to examine product internal structures without destroying samples.

References

1. Zheng De. “Principle and applications of digital holography.” (2004).

2. A. P. Harrison, C. Wong et al. “Virtual reflected‐light microscopy.” Journal of Microscopy (2011).

3. P. Rosi, F. Venturi et al. “Theoretical and practical aspects of the design and production of synthetic holograms for transmission electron microscopy.” Journal of Applied Physics (2021).