Nanosecond-Resolution Integrated Microscope for High-Throughput Liquid Biopsy

This work presents an integrated, high-throughput microscope on a chip designed for rapid and automated circulating tumor cells imaging based on cytomorphological features. The system employs a modified time-stretch imaging technique, utilizing a single nanosecond laser pulse split into a sequence of temporally and spatially separated pulses to illuminate the whole cell at different moments. Fabricated using femtosecond laser micromachining, the device integrates optical circuits, delay lines, and a microfluidic chip, enabling high-speed image acquisition with a single-pixel detector. The system is validated using calibration beads and tumor cells, demonstrating high resolution and stability. Fully compatible with machine learning algorithms, this platform represents a scalable, cost-effective solution for advancing real-time liquid biopsy and cancer diagnostics.