Python-Microscope - a new open-source Python library for the control of microscopes

Custom-built microscopes often require control of multiple hardware devices and precise hardware coordination. It is also desirable to have a solution that is scalable to complex systems and that is translatable between components from different manufacturers. Here we report Python-Microscope, a fre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of cell science Vol. 134; no. 19
Main Authors Susano Pinto, David Miguel, Phillips, Mick A, Hall, Nicholas, Mateos-Langerak, Julio, Stoychev, Danail, Susano Pinto, Tiago, Booth, Martin J, Davis, Ilan, Dobbie, Ian M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England The Company of Biologists Ltd 01.10.2021
Subjects
Computer Simulation
Gene Library
Imaging
Software
Tools and Resources
Tools in Cell Biology
Microscope
Adaptive optics
Open source
Super resolution
Python
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Summary:Custom-built microscopes often require control of multiple hardware devices and precise hardware coordination. It is also desirable to have a solution that is scalable to complex systems and that is translatable between components from different manufacturers. Here we report Python-Microscope, a free and open-source Python library for high-performance control of arbitrarily complex and scalable custom microscope systems. Python-Microscope offers simple to use Python-based tools, abstracting differences between physical devices by providing a defined interface for different device types. Concrete implementations are provided for a range of specific hardware, and a framework exists for further expansion. Python-Microscope supports the distribution of devices over multiple computers while maintaining synchronisation via highly precise hardware triggers. We discuss the architectural features of Python-Microscope that overcome the performance problems often raised against Python and demonstrate the different use cases that drove its design: integration with user-facing projects, namely the Microscope-Cockpit project; control of complex microscopes at high speed while using the Python programming language; and use as a microscope simulation tool for software development.
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Handling Editor: Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz
Present address: Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Mudd Hall, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
ISSN:0021-9533
1477-9137
DOI:10.1242/jcs.258955