Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for analyzing image data related to fluid samples

1 . A computer-implemented method for analyzing fluid samples comprising:

receiving, by a processor, digital holography image data associated with a fluid sample in a flow chamber device comprising an upper reference mark on an upper surface of the flow chamber device and a lower reference mark on a lower surface of the flow chamber device, wherein the upper surface of the flow chamber device corresponds to an upper inner surface of a flow channel in the flow chamber device, and wherein the lower surface of the flow chamber device corresponds to a lower inner surface of the flow channel in the flow chamber device;

determining, by the processor, a maximum focal depth and a minimum focal depth associated with the digital holography image data based at least in part on an upper reference mark image region and a lower reference mark image region of the digital holography image data, respectively;

generating, by the processor, a plurality of images for each of a plurality of focal depth layers associated with the digital holography image data based at least in part on the maximum focal depth and the minimum focal depth, wherein the maximum focal depth corresponds to a first focal depth between the upper surface of the flow chamber device and an imaging device, wherein the minimum focal depth corresponds to a second focal depth between the lower surface of the flow chamber device and the imaging device, and wherein the imaging device is positioned under the flow channel of the flow chamber device;

comparing reference mark sizes associated with the upper reference mark and the lower reference mark with image sizes of the upper reference mark and the lower reference mark of the digital holography image data;

determining a scale factor based at least in part on the comparation;

scaling one or more particle or cell dimensions of particles or cells of interest of the digital holography image data; and

determining actual sizes of the particles or cells of interest associated with the fluid sample based at least in part on the scaled one or more particle or cell dimensions.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

extracting, from the digital holography image data, the upper reference mark image region associated with the upper reference mark and the lower reference mark image region associated with the lower reference mark.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

focusing each of the plurality of focal depth layers associated with the digital holography image data based at least in part on the maximum focal depth and the minimum focal depth; and

extracting, from the plurality of focal depth layers, one or more region of interest (ROI) portions associated with the fluid sample.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the upper reference mark image region is extracted from the digital holography image data based at least in part on an upper reference mark location associated with the upper reference mark, wherein the lower reference mark image region is extracted from the digital holography image data based at least in part on a lower reference mark location associated with the lower reference mark.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

focusing the upper reference mark image region based at least in part on an Angular Spectrum Propagation (ASP) based image focusing algorithm, wherein the upper reference mark is in focus from the upper reference mark image region at the maximum focal depth.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

focusing the lower reference mark image region based at least in part on an Angular Spectrum Propagation (ASP) based image focusing algorithm, wherein the lower reference mark is in focus from the lower reference mark image region at the minimum focal depth.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper reference mark or the lower reference mark comprises an authentication indicium.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the authentication indicium comprises at least one of a serial number or media authentication markings.

9 . An apparatus for analyzing fluid samples comprising at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory comprising program code, the at least one non-transitory memory and the program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive, by the at least one processor, digital holography image data associated with a fluid sample in a flow chamber device comprising an upper reference mark on an upper surface of the flow chamber device and a lower reference mark on a lower surface of the flow chamber device, wherein the upper surface of the flow chamber device corresponds to an upper inner surface of a flow channel in the flow chamber device and wherein the lower surface of the flow chamber device corresponds to a lower inner surface of the flow channel in the flow chamber device;

determine, by the at least one processor, a maximum focal depth and a minimum focal depth associated with the digital holography image data based at least in part on an upper reference mark image region and a lower reference mark image region of the digital holography image data, respectively;

generate, by the at least one processor, a plurality of images for each of a plurality of focal depth layers associated with the digital holography image data based at least in part on the maximum focal depth and the minimum focal depth, wherein the maximum focal depth corresponds to a first focal depth between the upper surface of the flow chamber device and an imaging device, wherein the minimum focal depth corresponds to a second focal depth between the lower surface of the flow chamber device and the imaging device, and wherein the imaging device is positioned under the flow channel of the flow chamber device;

compare reference mark sizes associated with the upper reference mark and the lower reference mark with image sizes of the upper reference mark and the lower reference mark of the digital holography image data;

determine a scale factor based at least in part on the comparation;

scale one or more particle or cell dimensions of particles or cells of interest of the digital holography image data; and

determine actual sizes of the particles or cells of interest associated with the fluid sample based at least in part on the scaled one or more particle or cell dimensions.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least one non-transitory memory and the program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

extract, from the digital holography image data, the upper reference mark image region associated with the upper reference mark and the lower reference mark image region associated with the lower reference mark.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least one non-transitory memory and the program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

focus each of the plurality of focal depth layers associated with the digital holography image data based at least in part on the maximum focal depth and the minimum focal depth; and

extract, from the plurality of focal depth layers, one or more region of interest (ROI) portions associated with the fluid sample.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the flow chamber device is removable or replaceable.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the upper reference mark image region is extracted from the digital holography image data based at least in part on an upper reference mark location associated with the upper reference mark, wherein the lower reference mark image region is extracted from the digital holography image data based at least in part on a lower reference mark location associated with the lower reference mark.

14 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least one non-transitory memory and the program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

focus the upper reference mark image region based at least in part on an Angular Spectrum Propagation (ASP) based image focusing algorithm, wherein the upper reference mark is in focus from the upper reference mark image region at the maximum focal depth.

15 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least one non-transitory memory and the program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

focus the lower reference mark image region based at least in part on an Angular Spectrum Propagation (ASP) based image focusing algorithm, wherein the lower reference mark is in focus from the lower reference mark image region at the minimum focal depth.

16 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the upper reference mark or the lower reference mark comprises an authentication indicium.

17 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising an executable portion configured to:

receive digital holography image data associated with a fluid sample in a flow chamber device comprising an upper reference mark on an upper surface of the flow chamber device and a lower reference mark on a lower surface of the flow chamber device, wherein the upper surface of the flow chamber device corresponds to an upper inner surface of a flow channel in the flow chamber device and wherein the lower surface of the flow chamber device corresponds to a lower inner surface of the flow channel in the flow chamber device;

determine, a maximum focal depth and a minimum focal depth associated with the digital holography image data based at least in part on an upper reference mark image region and a lower reference mark image region of the digital holography image data, respectively;

generate a plurality of images for each of a plurality of focal depth layers associated with the digital holography image data based at least in part on the maximum focal depth and the minimum focal depth, wherein the maximum focal depth corresponds to a first focal depth between the upper surface of the flow chamber device and an imaging device, wherein the minimum focal depth corresponds to a second focal depth between the lower surface of the flow chamber device and the imaging device, and wherein the imaging device is positioned under the flow channel of the flow chamber device;

compare reference mark sizes associated with the upper reference mark and the lower reference mark with image sizes of the upper reference mark and the lower reference mark of the digital holography image data;

determine a scale factor based at least in part on the comparation;

scale one or more particle or cell dimensions of particles or cells of interest of the digital holography image data; and

determine actual sizes of the particles or cells of interest associated with the fluid sample based at least in part on the scaled one or more particle or cell dimensions.

18 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the upper reference mark image region is extracted from the digital holography image data based at least in part on an upper reference mark location associated with the upper reference mark, wherein the lower reference mark image region is extracted from the digital holography image data based at least in part on a lower reference mark location associated with the lower reference mark.

19 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the upper reference mark or the lower reference mark comprises an authentication indicium.

20 . The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the flow chamber device is removable or replaceable.