We report a single-shot computational polarized-light microscopy (SCPLM) method for identifying pathological crystals in bodily-fluids. We utilize the four-directional polarizers integrated on the pixels of a CMOS image sensor to reconstruct the transmittance, retardance, and slow-axis orientation maps of the objects with a single image exposure. Using SCPLM, we imaged birefringent crystals found in synovial fluid, e.g., monosodium urate, calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate, and triamcinolone acetonide. The quantitative birefringence images created by our method are pseudo-colored and digitally-integrated with bright-field images to highlight the birefringent crystals within the background. We believe this single-shot, quantitative, and easy-to-operate method will significantly benefit rheumatology.
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