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SIMI°BioCell

SIMI°BioCell is a software system designed for biogenetic and cell research. Its field of applications ranges from tracing the development of individual cells to studying the development of an entire complex organism by tracing and drawing the cell lineage.

New perspectives

Three-dimensional time-lapse recordings are captured and analyzed in SIMI°BioCell. Time-lapsed recordings taken through the microscope enable the analyses of cell movements and divisions of a complete embryo during the entire period of its development.

With the use of SIMI°BioCell for biogenetic and cell research , along with the overlay technology, it is possible to analyze the cell paths and divisions of a complete embryo at any point in time along the time axis of its development.

Cell paths and cell divisions (cell lineage) can easily be recorded and documented. The recorded data is presented graphically in a tree diagram and cell divisions are displayed directly on the video image.

The Video Manager (SIMI°VidMan) enables the system to work independently of the image recording. The system is easy to use, as it is based on video overlay techniques which work with Microsoft Windows.

Using the system - The Process

• The cells for observation are placed on a slide under the microscope and are recorded. It is possible to record and manage several recording levels, i.e. images which are located in different vertical layers of the cell.
• A several-hour analog or digital (optical disk) recording is made of the object for analysis during its developmental phase.
• The recorded cell movements are then analyzed using an image replication device (preferably an optical disk). The required images can be chosen precisely by the computer via the serial interface (RS-232). The Video Manager (SIMI°VidMan) allows the use of any image replication device.
• As an optional feature, it is possible to extend the system by the inclusion of a crosshair generator. The generator embeds crosshairs in a FBAS video signal and displays them on a high resolution monitor. Synchronized control of the crosshair generator allows better recording of the image data with high resolution video signals on a monitor. The presentation and analysis of the data on the video overlay board image is in no way restricted by the use of the crosshair generator.
• The video image is displayed in the overlay or video window. Cell movements are scanned and saved in the database by simply clicking on the video image. It is possible to display the saved information directly on the video image again: this includes not only the points at which a certain cell is located at any point in time but also the path followed by the cell. Furthermore, cells can be displayed in a 3D model in virtually any imaginable view.

Intelligent Data Management

The recorded information is displayed in relation to the division time in a structure or lineage window. This allows the precise observation of cell divisions (mitoses) and of the chronological development of the cells. A lineage tree in relation to the length of time is displayed on which the exact times of cell divisions and the positions of the cell are recorded. All the data and the corresponding image information can be chosen and displayed.

The user can record a standard lineage of his choice which can be placed onto the background of the lineage window to provide a comparison with a new project. It is possible to compare different projects and establish deviations using this feature.

Applications