A software-based focus system for wide-field optical microscopy

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Djafer-Cherif, Ilyas, Waclaw, Bartlomiej
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Djafer-Cherif, Ilyas
Waclaw, Bartlomiej
author_facet Djafer-Cherif, Ilyas
Waclaw, Bartlomiej
contents Long-term time-lapse imaging of biological samples requires correcting for focal drift, which would otherwise gradually push the sample out of focus. We present a software-based method that eliminates this time-dependent blur using only a motorized Z-drive, with no additional hardware. The method relies on imaging marks made on the side of the coverslip opposite to the sample. We provide a Beanshell script implementation, evaluate its performance across multiple objectives, and benchmark it against a hardware autofocus system, finding comparable results. Finally, we demonstrate its effectiveness in live imaging of growing bacterial colonies.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_20890
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A software-based focus system for wide-field optical microscopy
Djafer-Cherif, Ilyas
Waclaw, Bartlomiej
Biological Physics
Quantitative Methods
Long-term time-lapse imaging of biological samples requires correcting for focal drift, which would otherwise gradually push the sample out of focus. We present a software-based method that eliminates this time-dependent blur using only a motorized Z-drive, with no additional hardware. The method relies on imaging marks made on the side of the coverslip opposite to the sample. We provide a Beanshell script implementation, evaluate its performance across multiple objectives, and benchmark it against a hardware autofocus system, finding comparable results. Finally, we demonstrate its effectiveness in live imaging of growing bacterial colonies.
title A software-based focus system for wide-field optical microscopy
topic Biological Physics
Quantitative Methods
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.20890