title: 4D tracking of clinical seminal samples for quantitative characterization of motility parameters.
abstract: In this paper we investigate the use of a digital holographic microscope, with partial spatial coherent illumination, for the automated detection and tracking of spermatozoa. This in vitro technique for the analysis of quantitative parameters is useful for assessment of semen quality. In fact, thanks to the capabilities of digital holography, the developed algorithm allows us to resolve in-focus amplitude and phase maps of the cells under study, independently of focal plane of the sample image. We have characterized cell motility on clinical samples of seminal fluid. In particular, anomalous sperm cells were characterized and the quantitative motility parameters were compared to those of normal sperm.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, Unit of Naples - National Research Council, Naples 80121, Italy ; Currently at the Rowland Institute at Harvard, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Caprio
authors.affiliation: Microgravity Research Centre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, 1050, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Mallahi
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Optics, Unit of Naples - National Research Council, Pozzuoli 80078, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.affiliation: Center for Assisted Fertilization - CFA, Naples 80123, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.affiliation: Center for Assisted Fertilization - CFA, Naples 80123, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.affiliation: Center for Assisted Fertilization - CFA, Naples 80123, Italy.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.affiliation: Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, Unit of Naples - National Research Council, Naples 80121, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.affiliation: Microgravity Research Centre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, 1050, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dubois
keywords: (090.1995) Digital holography; (170.1530) Cell analysis; (170.3010) Image reconstruction techniques; (180.0180) Microscopy