JHU Ultima-L Imaging System

描述（由申请人提供）：拟通过增加一种新的共享仪器（SciMedia的快速成像系统，用于细胞和组织中的荧光测量）来增强约翰霍普金斯大学的研究能力。拟议系统中的双相机将允许在两个光波长下同时成像，帧速率在1，000和5，000帧每秒（fps）之间，或一个探头高达10，000 fps。每个相机都是MiCAM Ultima-L相机，它具有高空间分辨率的快速CMOS芯片，可用于动态光学信号的微观和宏观成像。约翰霍普金斯现有的摄像机被赋予非常高的空间分辨率和灵敏度，但它们无法以大于约500 fps的帧速率测量信号。SciMedia系统是一个完整的系统，具有用于图像采集和显示的硬件、软件和计算机，因此，新用户可以轻松掌握。可以用该系统进行的项目的例子是研究：心脏细胞培养物中基于钙的心律失常，钙依赖性信号分子的时空模式，快速时间尺度下的细胞信号传导分析，耳蜗毛细胞中的钙通量和囊泡释放，肺动脉中的钙调节，以及神经发育和发病机制。总之，拟议的仪器将填补约翰霍普金斯基础科学研究成像能力的一个主要空白，并使新的视野，在各种各样的健康相关的研究，如本提案中所概述的。公共卫生相关性：通过广泛的光学探针，细胞和组织功能研究取得了重大进展。拟议的仪器系统将使一个新的维度的成像研究的快速生物事件将在约翰霍普金斯大学进行，并将大大促进我们的正常和病理组织和器官的功能的基础上的理解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): It is proposed to enhance the research capabilities at the Johns Hopkins University by the addition of a new shared instrument, a fast imaging system from SciMedia for fluorescence measurements in cells and tissues. The dual cameras in the proposed system will allow simultaneous imaging at two optical wavelengths, at frame rates between 1,000 and 5,000 frames per second (fps), or of one probe up to 10,000 fps. Each camera is a MiCAM Ultima-L camera, which has a fast CMOS chip with high spatial resolution that can be used for both microscopic and macroscopic imaging of dynamic optical signals. Existing cameras at Johns Hopkins are weighted towards very high spatial resolution and sensitivity, but they are incapable of measuring signals at frame rates greater than about 500 fps. The SciMedia system is a complete system, with hardware, software and computer for image acquisition and display, and hence, can be easily mastered by new users. Examples of projects that can be undertaken with this system are the study of: calcium-based arrhythmias in cardiac cell cultures, spatio- temporal patterns of calcium-dependent signaling molecules, analysis of cell signaling at fast time scales, calcium flux and vesicular release in cochlear hair cells, calcium regulation in pulmonary arteries, and neural development and pathogenesis. In summary, the proposed instrumentation will fill a major gap in the imaging capabilities for basic science studies at Johns Hopkins and enable new horizons to be explored in a diverse range of health-related studies, as outlined in this proposal. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Major advances in the study of cell and tissue function as made possible by a wide range of optical probes. The proposed instrumentation system will enable a new dimension of imaging studies of fast biological events to be performed at the Johns Hopkins University and will greatly facilitate our understanding of the basis of normal and pathological function of tissues and organs.