Researchers Develop Optical Tomography System with BitFlow Frame Grabber to Better Diagnosis Eye Diseases

WOBURN, MA, MARCH 11, 2022 — High resolution 3D imaging of biological tissue is used extensively in the diagnosis of eye diseases, typically by applying a technique known as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). OCT testing has become a standard of care for the assessment and treatment of most retinal conditions. It is comparable to ultrasound, except that OCT employs light rather than sound and thereby achieves clearer, sharper resolution.
In a typical OCT system, an optical signal from a broadband source is divided into sample-arm and reference-arm signals using a beam splitter. Both signals are combined and an interference signal is detected by a detector assembly. Some systems employ a wavelength-tuning optical source and are termed “swept source” OCT (SS-OCT). Meanwhile, a system where a stationary broadband signal is dispersed spatially and detected using a spectrometer is referred as a Fourier Domain OCT (FD-OCT).
Both SS-OCT and FD-OCT techniques suffer from changes in the polarization of the optical signal when the signal is transmitted through materials possessing anisotropic properties, meaning they have a different value when measured from different directions. This results in artifacts that compromise the quality of the image, and therefore, the ability of doctors to diagnose a disease.
Reducing Polarization Artifacts Funded by Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and Massachusetts General Hospital, a team of researchers have developed a polarization insensitive detection unit (PIDU) for a spectrometer-based FD-OCT system that greatly minimized polarization associated artifacts in OCT images. The spectrometer unit employed diffraction grating (set at 1200 lines per mm), an 80mm lens, and a Sensors Unlimited InGaAs line-scan camera with a resolution of 2048 pixels.
Data from the spectrometer was collected at a line-scan speed of 100kHz utilizing a BitFlow Axion-CL Camera Link frame grabber. The Axion-CL supports a single Base CL camera, Power over Camera Link (PoCL), and can acquire up to 24 bits at 85MHz. The frame grabber benefits from a PCIe Gen 2 interface and a DMA optimized for fully loaded computers. Data collected by the Axion-CL was processed on LabVIEW software.
To demonstrate the proof of principle in biological tissue the researchers imaged chicken breast because of its high birefringence. Tests were conducted on the OCT system with and without the PIDU. During the imaging, the tissue was held in hand and maneuvered constantly to mimic real clinical conditions. Images were acquired and recorded for 10 seconds.
For the OCT system without PIDU, it was observed that the bright and dark bands of the sample were constantly fluctuating which can be attributed to the polarization dependent phase changes in the sample light. The OCT system with PIDU, however, showed that the image artifacts were not noticeable, making for images that are more accurate for a doctor to observe. Researchers found that in close examination, it was not only the light from the tissue that changes in intensity but also the light from the inner wall of the capsule which is not in tissue contact. This supports the idea that polarization artifacts come not solely from a tissue sample, but can also arise from the system itself.
The researchers believe their new design will be particularly useful in clinical settings where the sample arm is constantly under motion during probe introduction or when it is subjected to peristaltic motion. Further studies are planned on other biological tissues.
David Odeke Otuya, Gargi Sharma, Guillermo J. Tearney, and Kanwarpal Singh, “All fiber polarization insensitive detection for spectrometer based optical coherence tomography using optical switch,” OSA Continuum 2, 3465-3469 (2019)
Schematic of the FD-OCT system employing polarization insensitive detection scheme is shown. SMF: Single mode fiber, Cr: circulator, BS: beam splitter, PC: polarization controller, Co: collimator, NDF: neutral density filter, M: mirror, MPU: motor power unit, EC: electrical connection, MW: motor wire, PBS: polarizing beam splitter, OS: optical switch, G: grating, L: lens, LSC: line scan camera (Image courtesy of Otuya, Sharma, Tearney, and Singh)
(left) Image of chicken breast tissue acquired with OCT system without PIDU and (right) image of the same tissue acquired with OCT system with PIDU (Image courtesy of Otuya, Sharma, Tearney, and Singh)

BitFlow Frame Grabber Helps Researchers Generate 3D Structural Images of Biological Tissues

WOBURN, MA, JANUARY 24, 2022 — Biology researchers at Indiana University1 have developed an integrated system combining high-resolution optical coherence microscopy (HR-OCM) with dual-channel scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy (DC-SCFM) to enable 3D visual evaluation of cell activities involved in pupil developmental and disease conditions. Still in its experimental stages, this dual-modality 3D system simultaneously co-registers reflectance and fluorescence signals, giving it the ability to accurately track structural and functional changes in live specimens over time. Indiana University researchers hope to use their system to enable new investigations of biological processes in small animal models.
BitFlow Axion Camera Link frame grabber is a critical component of the hybrid system. It acquires the output signal from a spectrometer equipped with a Teledyne e2v high-speed line-scan camera operating at the rate of 250 kHz. A lateral resolution of 2-μm and axial resolution of 2.4-μm is captured in tissue over a field-of-view of 1.1 mm ×1.1 mm. The analog scanning signals, as well as the trigger signals for the BitFlow frame grabber, are generated synchronously through a four-channel analog output data acquisition card. Simultaneous recording of HR-OCM and DC-SCFM data was performed using custom software developed in LabVIEW 2017.
As data generated by faster, higher-resolution Camera Link cameras continues to grow exponentially, the Axion’s PCIe Gen 2 interface, with its StreamSync™ DMA optimized for modern computers, is needed to optimize their full performance. Features such as easier switching between different tap formats, a powerful acquisition engine, and a more flexible I/O and timing generator are all readily available in a dedicated low cost CL Base orientated frame grabber.
During development, researchers applied different strategies to enable the simultaneous recording of information, as well as to overcome the focal plane mismatch between both imaging modalities. The system’s performances were evaluated in imaging fluorescence microspheres embedded in multi-layer tape and silicone phantom. 
The combined system is synergistic in generating structural and functional information of samples; the DC-SCFM allows for the discrimination between different fluorophores, while the HR-OCM enables the 3D localization of the features inside tissue samples and enabled the depth localization.

1 “Development of high-speed, integrated high-resolution optical coherence microscopy and dual-channel fluorescence microscopy for the simultaneous co-registration of reflectance and fluorescence signals” Reddikumar Maddipatla, PatriceTankam School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA

System diagram

BitFlow Axion-xB Frame Grabbers Improve Performance of Camera Link Imaging Systems

New frame grabbers acquire stable, low-latency data from CL Base Cameras

WOBURN, MA, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 — Design engineers in the machine vision industry now have more configuration options than ever before with the introduction of the new Axion-xB line of frame grabbers from BitFlow, with support for the highest performance Camera Link® Base cameras on the market. Available in single, dual and quad link versions for maximum design flexibility, the new frame grabbers demonstrate BitFlow’s ongoing commitment to the highly popular Camera Link (CL) standard.


“Axion-xB frame grabbers represent a major upgrade from our renown Neon family of CL frame grabbers that we are phasing out in favor of this faster, more economical design,” said Donal Waide, Director of Sales for BitFlow, Inc. “Today, we are making it much easier for developers to bring the power, acceleration and versatility of technologies we’ve incorporated in our high-end CoaXPress frame grabbers into a Camera Link system environment, including the BitFlow StreamSync DMA engine and buffer manager that eliminates the need for on-board memory.”

As data generated by faster, higher-resolution cameras continues to grow exponentially, the Axion-xB’s PCIe Gen 2 interface — with the DMA optimized for modern computers — is now in line with the rest of the Axion family. Features such as, easier switching between different tap formats, more powerful acquisition engine and a more flexible I/O and timing generator are all now readily available in a dedicated low cost CL Base orientated frame grabber.


NEON UPGRADE SOLUTION The Axion-xB line addresses the challenge to developers of delivering greater return on machine vision system investments. One way to add value is to upgrade to the Axion-xB from existing Neon frame grabbers. Moving from the Neon family to the Axion family is simple. No code alterations are required — designers just recompile with the latest BitFlow SDK (6.5). Or if a 3rd party application is installed, such as Cognex Vision Pro or LabVIEW, the user can download the latest driver from BitFlow and the program will be immediately supported.


BitFlow Axion-xB frame grabbers are complimented by a sophisticated application software package and the BitFlow SDK for Windows and Linux operating systems. They can be integrated with virtually every available software library to permit seamless custom application development.

BitFlow Joins with OneBoxVision in Developing Vision Systems for Plastic Film Extruder

WOBURN, MA, AUGUST 18, 2020 — BitFlow recently assisted OneBoxVision, an integrator located in Ireland, in developing two web-based machine vision systems for a North American film extruder. The systems ensure consistent, defect-free film for plastic bags used for storage of powered milk. Dry milk products are highly sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly to moisture. This vulnerability makes it critical that plastic bags storing the powder not have holes where water or humidity can enter to spoil the product.

To prevent holes, the extruder required its plastic film be  continuously assessed for the presence of carbon or “black” specks while it was being extruded on a blown film line. Black specks in plastic film or sheet – especially in light-colored or clear plastics used to store foods – can cause holes in the material when it’s later oriented or thermoformed. Black specks also lead to expensive rejects, wasted resin, and production downtime, not to mention client dissatisfaction.

Once the extruded plastic is processed, inspected and approved at the first plant, it is shipped to a second site where an automated line fabricates it into bags during a multi-state production process. Another inspection station was installed there by OneBoxVision to scan the finished bags. OneBoxVision networked the system so that management at the second plant had access to the inspection data from the extrusion plant to compare results.

For the key technology enabler, OneBoxVision relied upon its SurfaceFlow™ software. SurfaceFlow is a complete quality package that can be deployed on plastic film lines to automatically detect holes, carbon, wrinkles, contamination and gels. Hardware included BitFlow Axion CL 2xE CameraLink frame grabbers, along with Chromasens allPIXA pro line scan cameras transmitting color images full-tilt at over 1 Gbytes per second. By adopting an “off-the-shelf” non-proprietaryhardware approach, OneBoxVision enables plastic film extruders, printers and converters, medical packaging manufacturers, and injection molding plants to deploy its high-performance solutions at a far lower cost with reduced risk.

By timing the line-by-line scanning with the transport cycle in the transport direction, a distortion-free image of the bags can be achieved. The particular strength of the line scan cameras emerges when they are used in conjunction with a highly deterministic, low latency frame grabber. In this situation, the BitFlow frame grabber synchronizes the image captures with the incoming triggers, plus provides energy to the cameras with its Power over Camera Link (PoCL).

One of the challenges for the second operation was that the bag inspection system had to be placed after a rotary punch perforated the bags. This meant the new system had to not only inspect for random holes in the plastic that could spoil the milk powder, but check that the manufactured perforations were properly made and in-place. Adding to this challenge is that the roll-feed runs continuously for hours, at high feed rates, and with limited human inspection. Again, SurfaceFlow was up to the job. OneBoxVision developed a suite of tools that perform both perforation and seam analysis while checking for the presence of defects. Simple but effective, the second vision system is made up of a single camera coupled with a BitFlow Axion CL 2xE frame grabber installed on the bag line.

The BitFlow Axion-CL is the most powerful CL frame grabber BitFlow has ever manufactured, featuring a StreamSync Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine and buffer manager to prevent overloading of the CPU with image transfer operations, along with a PCIe Gen 2 expansion bus to deliver high-speed access to host memory.

BitFlow Partners with One Box Vision to Develop Cost-Effective PackFlow™ Packaging Inspection Bundle

WOBURN, MA, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 — BitFlow has partnered with engineering firm One Box Vision in developing the PackFlow 100% print inspection bundle that improves the way the packaging industry inspects materials printed on high-speed web presses.

Comparable in performance with vision systems costing thousands of dollars more, the PackFlow bundle features all the key components needed for a print machine manufacturer or system integrator to profit from a state-of-the-art vision system: line-scan cameras, BitFlow Axion-CL 2xE frame grabbers, software and LED illuminator. PackFlow installation optimizes a press’s return on investment by performing quality checks at the full speed of the production line.

PackFlow is the first complete bundle that enables a vision inspection system to be installed on a new or in-operation printing press using standard hardware. In the past, a system integrator would use proprietary hardware that required custom coding based on machine vision libraries that typically fail when running at the high data rates associated with 100% print inspection. PackFlow eliminates that costly barrier so that packaging customers can focus CapEx resources on innovation and achieving business objectives.

Contributing to PackFlow’s success is the BitFlow Axion-CL 2xE frame grabber based on the Camera Link (CL) 2.0 specification. Even though the CL specification has been around a long time, it is still one of the simplest, most efficient, and least expensive ways to get high-volume camera data into a computer. CL also benefits from the hundreds of thousands of pieces of CL equipment sold worldwide. The BitFlow Axion-CL is the most powerful CL frame grabber BitFlow has ever manufactured, featuring a StreamSync Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine and buffer manager to prevent overloading of the CPU with image transfer operations, along with a PCIe Gen 2 expansion bus to deliver high-speed access to host memory. It supports Base, Medium, Full or 80-Bit mode Camera Link area and line scan, color and monochrome cameras with PoCL capabilities.

PACKFLOW IN ACTION
Printing is a material-intensive and relatively low-margin industry. Printers are under continuous pressure to boost productivity and improve output quality while at the same time reducing production costs. Even a small reduction in waste levels can have a significant impact on the printer’s profitability.

This was the case for a major US packaging supplier that recently approached One Box Vision with a challenge. Its older Flexo and RotaGravure printing presses were equipped with vision components that suppliers would no longer support because they deemed them obsolete. Two key performance indicators — inspection quality and production uptime — had slipped to critical levels, requiring a new inspection solution.

Following an equipment survey, One Box Vision recommended its PackFlow 100% print inspection bundle for the older presses, powered in part by BitFlow frame grabbers. Operations immediately benefited from more accurate monitoring of stretched films, real-time job control, and higher resolution displays of register and ink lay down. Equally important, PackFlow was deployed at only 50% of the cost of purchasing replacement components from the previous suppliers, allowing the customer to invest savings on employee training to ensure the refurbished presses were utilized to their full potential.

For more information, please call 781-932-2900 or request more information.

About One Box Vision
One Box Vision develops and licenses automated machine vision solutions for manufacturing, and has developed a broad portfolio of packages for web and sheet inspection. We work with system integration companies, original equipment manufacturers and corporate engineering teams to design and implement advanced inspection and metro-logy solutions. Our key clients operate in the US, Brazil,UK, Germany India and South East Asia. Feel free to contact One Box Vision at www.oneboxvision.com

Vision 2018, Stuttgart, Germany, November 6-8, 2018

BitFlow recently exhibited at Vision in Stuttgart, Germany.

Our latest released CoaXPress frame grabber, the Claxon, was on display.  The Claxon, which can run at up to 12.5 Gb/S, is our CXP-12 frame grabber which will be available in Q2 2019.

A demo showcasing our Cyton CXP4 with 4 single channel CXP cameras was on display.  These cameras were focused in on our Aon-CXP, single link frame grabber.  Cameras on display included ISVI, CIS, Adimec and Sentech.

The Cyton CXP HALCON demo was front and center catching the attention of many attendees.

Located in Hall 1 Aisle A we had a prime location for lots of booth traffic.

If you attended the show and did not get a chance to stop by our booth, please visit us online, submit an inquiry or give us a call at 781-932-2900.

BitFlow at CRAV in Santa Clara, CA 2018

BitFlow recently exhibited at the AIA CRAV conference at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara, California.

Cameras from ISVI, CIS, Adimec and Sentech were used in a demo highlighting our Cyton-CXP4.

Our BitBoxAxion-CLAon-CXPand Cyton CXP4 were all on display.

If you attended the show and did not have a chance to stop by tabletop #3, please visit us online, submit an inquiry or give us a call at 781-932-2900.

BitFlow in Boston, MA 2018

BitFlow recently exhibited at the Vision Show Boston at the Hynes Convention Center.

We had a great location at the entrance to the show.

Our Cyton CXP and HALCON demo caught the attention of many show attendees.

A CoaXPress camera demo highlighting our Aon-CXP and Cyton CXP4 was on display along with a sequence capture demo.  Cameras from JAI, IO Industries and Sentech were included in these demos.

Our Neon CLQ, Aon-CXPAxion 1xE and Cyton CXP4 frame grabbers were all on display.

The show was well attended and there was a lot of traffic at our booth.

If you attended the show and did not have a chance to stop by our booth, please visit us online, submit an inquiry or give us a call at 781-932-2900.

BitFlow in Anaheim, CA

BitFlow recently exhibited at the SPIE Defense and Commercial Sensing Show in Anaheim, California.

12 MP cameras from JAI and Adimec were included in a demo highlighting our Cyton CXP4.  Our BitBox, Axion 2xE and Cyton CXP4 were all on display.

Our newly released Aon-CXP was on display with a Vieworks camera.

If you attended the show and did not get a chance to speak with us at our booth, please visit us online, submit an inquiry or give us a call at 781-932-2900.