Preliminary experimental evaluation of microscopic imaging through thick biological tissues based on in-line phase-shift digital holography using near-infrared light

We previously proposed a three-dimensional microscopic imaging system for objects hidden behind scattering media using in-line phase-shift digital holography, which simultaneously captures amplitude and phase information. However, as the thickness of the scattering medium increases, the influence of scattering is enhanced, and the reconstructed image of the object behind the scattering medium deteriorates. In this paper, we report the evaluation of this image using a near-infrared light source with a wavelength of 780 nm that is capable of deep tissue penetration. A favorable microscopic image of the object behind the rat-skin sample of 912 μm-thickness was successfully reconstructed.