Virtual Finger To Digitally Navigate 3D Images Of Cells And Neurons

A research team from Allen Institute for Brain Science has developed a new cost and time efficient technology named 'Virtual Finger' that lets the user navigate through digital images of complex biological structures such as cells and neurons, using their flat screen computers. Having huge benefits in the field of experimental biology, the software and its applications developed by these researchers is the newest working model of how a image analysis software ought to be. In the current software, the 3D image is separated into thin slices and each slice is viewed individually as a flat image on a computer screen. Scientists working on these images have to sift through the slices one at a time - a method that's inefficient when it comes to large amount of data (in terabytes).

Hanchuan Peng, Associate Investigator from the Allen Institute for Brain Science, believes that this is similar to being able to see an object through a glass window, but not being able to touch or manipulate it. Addressing this issue at hand, the Virtual Finger technology now allows scientists in navigating through 3D images more intuitively than ever before - by using their cursor. It analyzes the depth of the image too.

virtual-finger-technology

Putting the new tech to use, the Allen Institute researchers have already become successful in improving the detection of spikes from individual cells, and to better model the morphological structures of neurons. Moving beyond the realm of neuroscience, the potential of Virtual Finger encompasses all applications that involve biological experiments and methods of data analysis. In fact, they can also use it to perform 3D microsurgery to kill single cells, study the development of lung, and even create a map of a fly brain's neural connections

Source: #-Link-Snipped-#

Replies

You are reading an archived discussion.

Related Posts

It's been about two years since the makers of mini-computer for DIYers, Raspberry, announced Raspberry Pi Model B. Ever since, the global DIY community has been asking for improvements and...
Quote: Charles (Chuck) W Hull is the co-founder, executive vice-president and chief technology office of 3D Systems, whose business is based on the stereolithography process Hull invented in 1986. This...
Quote: For someone who passed away half a decade ago, Michael Jackson seems very much alive. This year alone has seen the King of Pop continue a permanent show in...
Quote: HP the once-great technology giant that invented start-up culture in Silicon Valley before going into oblivion in the millennium is back for good. The company presented its most recent...
Quote: Toyota’s Central R&D Labs Inc. has developed an engine prototype called the Free Piston Engine Linear Generator (FPEG) in which the piston isn’t attached to a crankshaft; instead, as...