Low-cost two-dimensional digital image acquisition subsystem for high-speed microscopic motion detection

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Abstract
The 60 Hz field rate of RS-170 video systems is inadequate to capture the microscopic motion of rapidly moving biological specimens such as contracting skeletal and cardiac muscle. The recent introduction of low cost, high resolution CCD video cameras has permitted us to record muscle contractile dynamics without resorting to complicated and expensive non-standard video equipment. To this end, we have modified a frame-resettable charge-coupled device (CCD) camera for 60/240 Hz video field operation. The increase in image acquisition speed is achieved at the expense of vertical field size, but with no loss of horizontal resolution. For 240 Hz operation, there are no changes to the fundamental RS-170 video standard except for reinitializing the camera's scanning at a time earlier than normal. Thus, all RS-170 video devices work with this camera in either mode of operation without modification. Images are then digitized and stored in a computer field by field with a frame grabber for later image processing, analysis and measurement. This simple approach permits the detection and evaluation of rapidly moving microscopic specimens with appropriate aspect ratios to be made with relatively low cost RS-170 video equipment.

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