Design and Development of an Optical Prototype System: Preliminary Results

The aim of this work is to develop and test a complete platform for an optical imaging system constructed in transmission geometry for both in-vivo and in-vitro imaging. The imaging system comprises of a visible light source, a CMOS camera, and an integrated hardware platform, designed for both rotational and linear movements, accommodating the placement of the imaged object. A comprehensive software framework is designed and implemented to govern the linear and rotational motions of the platform. The developed platform was tested with three samples to obtain optical images, which are shown together with the images from an optical microscope. Results showed that the prototype system is capable of obtaining planar images within a timeframe of less than 40 s. Future work will focus on optimizing image acquisition speed, conducting extensive validation, and expanding the system into three dimensions. This system is intended to complement the innovative prototype X-ray system currently in development by the ELPIDA group at the Medical University of Varna.