Capturing video with gigapixel-sized frames using nearly 100 lenses and sensors
We have been developing a suite of multi-camera array microscopes for a variety of biomedical imaging applications. More information about this new technology may be found at https://www.ramonaoptics.com/
We also have an associated project page that we will keep updated with interesting data and videos: mcam.deepimaging.io
Please check out out gigapixel video viewer as well!
Associated papers:
X. Bao et al., "Wide-field reflective imaging with an epi-illumination multi-camera array microscope," Optics Express (2026).
H. Chen et al., "High-throughput multi-camera array microscope platform for automated 3D behavioral analysis of swimming zebrafish larvae," Communications Biology (2026).
K. C. Zhou et al., "High-speed 4D fluorescence light field tomography of whole freely moving organisms," Optica (2025).
X. Yang et al., "Curvature-adaptive gigapixel microscopy at submicron resolution and centimeter scale," Optics Letters (2025).
A. Chaware et al., "Micron scale 3D imaging with a multi-camera array," Advanced Imaging (2025).
C. Cook et al., "Fourier lightfield multiview stereoscope for large field-of-view 3D imaging in microsurgical settings," Advanced Photonics Nexus (2025).
L. Kreiss et al., "Recording dynamic facial micro-expressions with a multi-focus camera array," Biomedical Optics Express (2024).
K. C. Zhou et al., "High-speed 4D fluorescence light field tomography of whole freely moving organisms," Optica (2025).
K. Kim et al., "Rapid 3D imaging at cellular resolution for digital cytopathology with a multi-camera array scanner (MCAS)," NPJ Imaging (2024).
K. Zhou et al., "Parallelized computational 3D video microscopy of freely moving organisms at multiple gigapixels per second," Nature Photonics (2023). Pre-print available here. Project page available here.
M. Harfouche et al., "Imaging across multiple spatial scales with the multi-camera array microscope", Optica (2023). Pre-print available here. Project page available here.
X. Yang et al., "Multi-modal imaging using a cascaded microscope design", Optics Letters (2023). Pre-print available here. Project page available here.
E. Thomson et al., "Gigapixel imaging with a multi-camera array microscope," eLife (2022). Project page available here.
Project Summary:
High-throughput optical microscopy is currently transforming the research fields of genetics, drug discovery and neuroscience. Due to challenges with large lens design, standard microscopes have a hard time capturing anything more than 50 megapixels per image snapshot, which makes it impossible to simultaneously image at cellular-resolution over a multi-centimeter viewing area (field of view, FOV). To enable cellular resolution imaging over fields of view 10s of cm in diameter, and to parallelize the image capture processes for high-throughput experimentation, our lab develops new methods of parallelized microscopic imaging. A key platform that our lab works with is the micro-camera array microscope (MCAM) - an array of up to 96 compact microscopes that we can fit within an 8x12 cm footprint:
Each camera is individually addressable and controllable to enable rapid, synchronized image and video acquisition at data rates up to 10 GB/sec (80 Gbit/sec). Gigapixel-scale snapshot images and video have been captured of freely swimming zebrafish larvae for behavioral imaging, of organoids and cell cultures for high-throughput drug discovery, and of model organisms like the Drosophila and Hydra for high-speed volumetric discovery. This work is in collaboration with Ramona Optics and a number of other important collaborators!
Please check out some of our new gigapixel videos at our online interface here: gigazoom.rc.duke.edu
If you are interested in our extreme wide-field-of-view microscope and think you have an interesting application for us, please feel free to get in touch!