Development of a Fast-Switching LED Driver for Ratiometric Fluorescence Imaging
Jan Christoph, Professor
UC San Francisco
Applications for Spring 2024 are closed for this project.
It is an exciting time in cardiovascular research: the combination of 3D imaging technology, deep learning, numerical modeling and high-performance computing opens doors to novel diagnostic capabilities. Our group develops computational and experimental methods for the imaging of the heart. We produce imaging data using fluorescence imaging and 4D ultrasound imaging, and we combine this data to obtain high-resolution visualizations of heart rhythm disorders. We developed an imaging setup that consists of 12 high-speed cameras for panoramic imaging of isolated hearts (see: https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.07943). In order to improve the setup, it is required to introduce a strobed illumination scheme to excite fluorescent dye that is used to map action potential waves at different wavelengths in a ratiometric fashion (see: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00464/full). More specifically, the goal of this project is to develop a fast-switching LED driver to rapidly turn on and off a set of green and blue LEDs (250 times per second) and to integrate this system into our existing imaging setup.
Role: The student will design electronic circuits (based on MOSFETs) and develop a device that drives and can be used to rapidly turn on and off a set of green and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs will be integrated into our custom-built imaging setup with a soccerball-shaped imaging chamber, and will be used to excite voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye (Di-4-ANEPPS). The dye is ratiometric, which means that it behaves differently at different excitation wavelengths. This property can be exploited to improve the signal quality during certain fluorescence imaging applications. The student will finally test the device in imaging experiments and confirm an improvement of the signal quality.
Qualifications: Applicants should have a background in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or physics and be interested in developing electrical circuits for research applications. A background in electronics is desired, experience with electronic prototyping (Arduino) is very welcome, and experience with at least one programming language (e.g. Python, Matlab, C/C++, etc.) is required.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Jan Christoph
Hours: 12 or more hours
Off-Campus Research Site: About 75% on-campus and 25% off-campus work. On-campus work will be at the Cardiovascular Research Institute on UCSF’s Mission Bay Campus. Eventually collaboration with electronics workshop at UC Berkeley. Lab meetings and 1-on-1 meetings will be held on Zoom and Discord.
Engineering, Design & Technologies Biological & Health Sciences Mathematical and Physical Sciences