Identification of tumor cell images by using an optical correlator

A technique for identifying tumor cell images was developed that uses a joint transform correlator (JTC). Cell images taken with a digital camera are converted into luminance-intensity histograms and x-y chromaticity diagrams in the correlator system. These two-dimensional patterns are displayed on a spatial light modulator and retrieved on the JTC system. The patterns extracted from normal cell images were very different from those extracted from tumor cell images, and the two cases could be clearly distinguished on the correlator. These results confirm the feasibility of the JTC-based identification technique.