Gigapixel imaging with a novel multi-camera array microscope.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

The dynamics of living organisms are organized across many spatial scales. However, current cost-effective imaging systems can measure only a subset of these scales at once. We have created a scalable multi-camera array microscope (MCAM) that enables comprehensive high-resolution recording from multiple spatial scales simultaneously, ranging from structures that approach the cellular scale to large-group behavioral dynamics. By collecting data from up to 96 cameras, we computationally generate gigapixel-scale images and movies with a field of view over hundreds of square centimeters at an optical resolution of 18 µm. This allows us to observe the behavior and fine anatomical features of numerous freely moving model organisms on multiple spatial scales, including larval zebrafish, fruit flies, nematodes, carpenter ants, and slime mold. Further, the MCAM architecture allows stereoscopic tracking of the z-position of organisms using the overlapping field of view from adjacent cameras. Overall, by removing the bottlenecks imposed by single-camera image acquisition systems, the MCAM provides a powerful platform for investigating detailed biological features and behavioral processes of small model organisms across a wide range of spatial scales.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Thomson, EE; Harfouche, M; Kim, K; Konda, PC; Seitz, CW; Cooke, C; Xu, S; Jacobs, WS; Blazing, R; Chen, Y; Sharma, S; Dunn, TW; Park, J; Horstmeyer, RW; Naumann, EA

Published Date

  • December 2022

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 11 /

Start / End Page

  • e74988 -

PubMed ID

  • 36515989

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC9917455

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2050-084X

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 2050-084X

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.7554/elife.74988

Language

  • eng