Highspeed imaging and real-time processing

Highspeed imaging and real-time processing

‍

R&D Vision has provided the Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience — NeuroPSI — with a highspeed and high sensitivity imaging system. This device records the images with no loss of information over an extended period, and enables the quantification of certain image characteristics in real time at 100 Hz

‍

‍

Measuring fluorescence resulting from neuronal activity markers of the cortex

The aim is to take images of a small field with sides of 5 mm using a macroscope to observe dynamic fluorescence waves. This fluorescence results from neuronal activity markers of the cortex, measured on a mesoscopic scale. The properties of these waves must be monitored in real time to be able to provide feedback on the biological system studied.

Despite the slight changes in brightness with bright backgrounds, as an initial approach R&D Vision favoured the use of a “standard” industrial vision camera and not a costly scientific camera. This approach paid off; the images obtained complied with the characteristics required for image processing.

‍

‍

CPU or FPGA approach?

To comply with a maximum processing time of around 10 ms per image, the use of a CPU or FPGA card was assessed. Owing to the nature of the processing used, the CPU approach was chosen in the end. The algorithms developed in partnership with the institute were all assessed in terms of execution time and sensitivity. Optimisations were then made to comply with the expected performance levels (quality of information collected and speed of execution).

For users to be able to adapt and modify the algorithms based on changes to their experiments’ needs, R&D Vision chose a standard development environment. The source code for the algorithms developed specifically in the context of this project (C/C++ code) was then provided to NeuroPSI.

‍

‍

For more information, please email us at info@rd-vision.com.

‍

‍