Fourier ptychography microscopy for digital pathology

Abstract

Fourier ptychography microscopy (FPM) has made significant progress since its invention in 2013, thanks to its adaptable nature, high resolution, and vast field-of-view capabilities. FPM is used in various medical applications across multiple optical wavelengths, from automated digital pathology to radiology and ultraviolet label-free imaging. This review explores the fundamental physical and computational concepts that have driven advancements in digital pathology using FPM. A crucial part of the progress has been the development of computational algorithms, which have directly contributed to the improvements in FPM. We evaluate early-stage algorithms like the Gerchberg–Saxton and highlight how phase-retrieval and deep-learning advancements have propelled FPM forward. Additionally, we discuss the impact of these algorithms on digital pathology for potential automated diagnosis, providing a comprehensive explanation of their influence on medical imaging and offering insights into future research directions.