1. CyMap: Simple imaging and tracking of
microscopic particles
Professor Boris Vojnovic
Dr Paul Barber
University of Oxford
Challenge sponsored by:

2. How it works
A small, simple and versatile
technology for monitoring
microscopic objects, particles or
cells with a large field of view.
Point-like
light source
Particles
Camera chip Continuously record Particle signature
(e.g. CMOS or CCD) particle signatures across (diffraction pattern)
whole field-of-view easily found & tracked
by machine vision

3. Key Features
• Small, robust and cheap
• Automated detection and control
through tailored software
• Initially developed for cell imaging
and tracking (see videos) across
large field of view inside the
incubator
• Can detect any kind of micro-
scale, semi-transparent particle
• Large Field of View – proportional
to size of camera chip

4. Particle locating software
Signal
Filter
Decreasing
detection
threshold in
Threshold software
Convolution
Particle
Locations
Can adjust how the software analyses the raw data and
recognizes particles for different applications – as well
as including algorithms for tracking etc.

5. We have developed a system which is:
• Portable, robust & cheap
• Flexible
• variable field of view: bigger camera chip = bigger field of view!
• Variable resolution: more pixels on camera chip = better resolution!
• Can image particle in cell culture vessels, microfluidic devices etc. – any
transparent module
• Image any kind of semi-transparent particle
We’ve developed Software for:
• Live Cell Locating
• Live Cell Tracking
We’re hoping to find:
• Practical applications for live cell tracking (Cell growth within the incubator, Cell
confluency, Colony formation, Cell motion)
• Live tracking of other objects or other settings?
• Thoughts on additional algorithms to code?
• New particle systems to image
• Any kind of new research project or direction CyMap makes possible, or ways
to improve the technology or add additional algorithms

6. Parting thoughts –
3D imaging
One of the ways we thought of
modifying the setup was to
use 2 light sources to be able
to calculate height of the
particles above the substrate –
effectively 3D imaging.
Any ideas where this might be
useful?
Or any ideas how else to
modify the setup?

7. Thanks to our sponsors:
And thanks to:
Remember – just use your marbles!