Hardware Updates / Progress (Monday July 22, 2013)

We are currently working on improving our hardware for C. Elegans observation.

Moving Stage

It is necessary for single worm tracking to have a fully controllable X/Y stage to track the motion of the C. Elegans to ensure that it is always in frame of our microscope or camera.

From a hardware perspective, the stage is completely assembled. We are utilizing two Lin Engineering 4118L-01-RO stepper motors, being controlled by two drivers and a National Instruments USB-6501 I/O interface into the computer.

This is where things get a little bit tricky.

There is a lot of necessary software to control the X/Y stage that is yet to be developed. There is a feedback loop which must be linked together with matlab analysis in order to control the stage movement in real time.

Essentially the process should look something like this:

1. Camera images the worm --> 
2. Computer analyzes the image and notices that it is 1mm to the left as compared to the previous frame --> 
3. Computer sends signal to the I/O --> 
4. I/O sends signal to the stepper motors to spin in correct direction / speed --> 
5. The stage moves 1mm to the right in order to compensate for the worm's movement at the correct speed --> 
6. Repeat over the course of the imaging process. 

Please note that this is only taking place in two dimensions. Eventually when we move into 3D imaging, there will have to be a Z axis included to compensate for up/down motions.

As of now: software has been developed to move the stage fixed distances. The feedback process needs to be developed.

Uniform Electric Field 

There are several differing hypotheses as to the way that C. Elegans behaves in a uniform electric field. 

ITO plates are going to be used to supply uniform electric fields. The method that other previous papers have used may have introduced some electric field distortion. We are currently attempting to duplicate their findings using a different experimental set up made completely out of insulators. 

That's all for now, check back later for more updates. 

-Blake