A new deep learning method for image deblurring in optical microscopic systems.

Journal: Journal of biophotonics
Published Date:

Abstract

Deconvolution is the most commonly used image processing method in optical imaging systems to remove the blur caused by the point-spread function (PSF). While this method has been successful in deblurring, it suffers from several disadvantages, such as slow processing time due to multiple iterations required to deblur and suboptimal in cases where the experimental operator chosen to represent PSF is not optimal. In this paper, we present a deep-learning-based deblurring method that is fast and applicable to optical microscopic imaging systems. We tested the robustness of proposed deblurring method on the publicly available data, simulated data and experimental data (including 2D optical microscopic data and 3D photoacoustic microscopic data), which all showed much improved deblurred results compared to deconvolution. We compared our results against several existing deconvolution methods. Our results are better than conventional techniques and do not require multiple iterations or pre-determined experimental operator. Our method has several advantages including simple operation, short time to compute, good deblur results and wide application in all types of optical microscopic imaging systems. The deep learning approach opens up a new path for deblurring and can be applied in various biomedical imaging fields.

Authors

  • Huangxuan Zhao
    Research Laboratory for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
  • Ziwen Ke
    Research Center for Medical AI, CAS Key Laboratory of Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
  • Ningbo Chen
    Research Laboratory for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
  • Songjian Wang
    Beijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application, Beijing, China.
  • Ke Li
    School of Ideological and Political Education, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China.
  • Lidai Wang
    Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Xiaojing Gong
    Research Laboratory for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
  • Wei Zheng
    School of Computer Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing, 211169, China. zhengwei@jit.edu.cn.
  • Liang Song
    Research Laboratory for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
  • Zhicheng Liu
    School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
  • Dong Liang
    Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China.
  • Chengbo Liu
    Research Laboratory for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.