Digital Holographic Microscopy, a novel technology created by Honeywell, employs artificial intelligence (AI) to help count and identify small particles or cells. Numerous sectors where prompt analysis and streamlined operations are essential could benefit from the application of this technology.
For instance, in the healthcare sector, patients undergoing at-home peritoneal dialysis can benefit from shorter treatment times thanks to Digital Holographic Microscopy.
Due to the time it takes to transfer the samples to a lab with specialized equipment, it can take 1-2 days to diagnose these infections, which can exacerbate the patient’s health if treatment is not received. These people are at risk for infections of the abdomen lining.
This challenge can be addressed with Digital Holographic Microscopy, which uses portable equipment with a laser, imager sensor, and disposable microscope slide to take pictures of the patient’s dialysis fluid at the point-of-care. AI algorithms evaluate these photos to swiftly ascertain whether the quantity and kind of white blood cells point to an illness, allowing patients to get the right care more quickly and efficiently.
Beyond clinical care, Digital Holographic Microscopy can be used in environmental applications to analyze types and amounts of various air pollutants to help achieve safer indoor air levels. It can also monitor cells and other organisms in liquid samples for quality and safety.
Additional Information on Digital Holographic Microscopy
High-resolution images are produced by digital holographic microscopy without the use of costly, intricate lenses or the opto-mechanical systems included in conventional microscopes. Rather, this technology creates unfocused holographic pictures by using light flowing through a sample. These images are subsequently analyzed by computer algorithms to enable interpretation.
Compared to traditional microscopy, this new technology offers several benefits, especially the ability to construct portable and easy-to-use instruments that enable testing and analysis at the point of use instead of requiring samples to be transferred to a laboratory.
It also removes the requirement for staining by utilizing machine learning algorithms to distinguish between different cell types, making the preparation of biological samples easier. It can also be used in place of or in addition to sample analysis, allowing for quicker findings and a more efficient process.
Developing solutions that leverage AI and machine learning to help expedite treatment for patients with chronic conditions and streamline laboratory analysis supports Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio to three compelling megatrends, including automation.
Leadership Comments
“We are seeing a growing need for solutions that can provide results that are both rapid and precise, empowering healthcare professionals to make informed decisions quickly,” said Sarah Martin, president of Honeywell Sensing Solutions. “We have invested in innovations like Digital Holographic Microscopy because of their power to make testing and analysis more accessible to patients while also improving patient care and efficiency across our healthcare system.”
