Rourkela: Researchers from the Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) have developed an AI-enabled auto-focusing technology designed to enhance microscopic imaging for biomedical diagnostic applications. The innovation enables rapid, accurate, and repeatable imaging with minimal human intervention, improving efficiency in medical diagnostics and research.
The technology has been developed in collaboration with Glowvista Instruments Private Limited, a startup incubated at NIT Rourkela’s Foundation for Technology Business Incubation (FTBI). The research team has also secured a patent titled “A Method for Autofocusing in Optofluidic Microsystems and Processes” for the developed system.
In the healthcare industry, microscopy is used by doctors and researchers to diagnose cells, tissues, microorganisms, and biological structures that cannot be seen with the naked eye. It is used for the detection of diseases such as cancer, pathology-related conditions, and infections like malaria and tuberculosis. In research, it is used for drug development and point-of-care diagnostics by providing detailed visual information.
While conventional microscopy systems rely on manual adjustments, they are time-consuming and prone to human error, which can lead to inconsistent results, inaccurate diagnoses, and delays in treatment. Such limitations can become critical when dealing with complex biological samples or in emergency diagnostic situations.
To address these challenges, the NIT Rourkela research team developed an optofluidic digital microscopy platform that uses deep learning integrated with an optical imaging system and automated motion control. This system continuously analyses microscopic images in real time and automatically adjusts focus through an intelligent feedback mechanism.
The research team includes Prof. Earu Banoth, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, NIT Rourkela, and Founder & Non-Executive Director of Glowvista Instruments Pvt. Ltd.; Shaik Ahmadsaidulu, Research Graduate, NIT Rourkela; along with incubatee Amol Lalchand Salve, Design Engineer, and Padmanaban Selvakumar, Product Manager at Glowvista Instruments Pvt. Ltd.
Developed at a cost of Rs 1.20 lakh, lab-scale testing showed that the system produced accurate results in detecting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (blood cancer), malaria, and complete blood cell counts through blood cell classification (5-class and 7-class categorisation).
Speaking about the technology, Earu Banoth said, “Our goal is to develop a simple handheld system that works as effectively as imported automated microscopy technology, while providing precise information. Further, the system should be extendable to various applications, unlike flow cytometers and imaging flow cytometers.”
Key features of the developed system include AI-powered intelligent autofocus with real-time image processing, automated motion control for precise focus adjustment, enhanced imaging of complex biological and micro-scale samples, cloud-enabled learning for continuous performance improvement, and user-friendly operation with improved accuracy, repeatability, and efficiency.
The system has been developed with research grants from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.
The technology has potential applications in biomedical diagnostics and disease detection, digital pathology and tissue imaging, AI-assisted microscopy and automated imaging, point-of-care healthcare devices, microfluidic analysis and biofluid monitoring, biomedical and life sciences research, smart laboratory automation, and portable and remote diagnostic systems.
Speaking about the next steps of the research, Prof. Banoth said, “We are extending our work to develop complete ground-truth data, as well as scaling up the work for deployment at various locations for field testing and feedback from diagnostic centres and research laboratories. The data will be used for further approvals toward developing a market-ready product, and we look forward to its market launch. At present, we are seeking funding support from both research and startup channels to scale up the work.”
Aligning with the Government of India’s Make in India initiative, the innovation reflects NIT Rourkela’s commitment to advancing indigenous, research-driven solutions that support accessible, next-generation healthcare technologies for society.
