Even with advanced medicine, there is still much we have yet to learn about the human brain. Hyperspectral imaging solutions are making significant contributions to both medical applications and neurological research.

At Polytechnique Montréal, researchers developed an innovative system for use during epilepsy or brain cancer surgery. This tool monitors hemodynamic changes following brain activity by leveraging a unique property of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin—these molecules respond differently to white light wavelengths.

When neurons become active, cerebral blood flow increases to deliver oxygen. This creates local shifts in the ratio between oxygen-rich and oxygen-depleted hemoglobin. The specific way oxygen is supplied and consumed by brain cells provides valuable insights into neural health and connectivity patterns. Hyperspectral video cameras can distinguish these different blood states, generating detailed 2D maps that color-based systems cannot match.

Traditional approaches using monochrome cameras with filters are slow and impractical due to limited spectral bands (typically 16). The hyperspectral camera from Imec offers superior accuracy and speed through advanced image sensor technology available via Adimec cameras. This system integrates optical components directly into the sensors, eliminating bulky external optics while maintaining compactness.

The implementation includes two distinct imaging approaches:

  • Scanning systems utilize CMOSIS CMV2000 2-megapixel sensors capturing at up to 340 frames per second. These devices feature a staircase filter structure with each wavelength band separated by specific spectral bands (16 per channel) and spatial resolution of 2048 pixels.
  • Snapshot technology is available for high-speed applications where objects are moving rapidly. This option either divides the sensor into 32 zones with specialized filters, or employs mosaic pixel arrangements that can cover up to 25 distinct wavelength bands.

Both configurations utilize CMOSIS CMV2000 sensors and can be customized based on specific application requirements—filters can be selected individually rather than requiring continuous wavelength coverage.

For more information about this technology collaboration between Adimec and Imec, please visit their joint website. Surgical testing is currently underway with results planned for future publications. This innovative approach shows potential not only in surgical applications but also in broader neurological discoveries that will be explored in upcoming technical content.

(Image source: Laboratory for Radiological Optics, Polytechnique Montréal)

Further Reading:

  • Imec demonstrates a compact low cost fast hyperspectral imaging solution (Parts 1 and 2)
  • Video Demonstration of the Imec Hyperspectral Imaging Camera

Last Updated: 2025-09-04 20:36:04