In the DeCEMIS project we have completed the development of the Swift camera, a ground-breaking technology optimised for 100keV Cryo-EM. In more detail, the main results are:
• the development of wafer-scale, high-speed, radiation-hard CMOS image sensors. With 4 Mpixel, and capable of more than 5,000 frames per second, this sensor offers an improvement of more than 10 times the speed of any existing sensor of the same type. This innovative design is based on IMASENIC’s proprietary (patent pending) technology.
• A high-speed readout electronic, capable to receive the high data rate coming from the sensor, in excess of 200 billion bits per second (200 Gbps), and sending it to the computer in real time and with no loss of information.
• A single electron counting algorithm, capable of processing in real time the huge flow of information coming from the Swift sensor and extract the information related to single electrons, thus greatly reducing the amount of data that needs to be stored in a computer, and without any effect on the image quality.
• A mechanical design where the sensor and the high-speed electronics are hosted. The design fits into an existing Tundra microscope from ThermoFisher, ensure thermal control of the sensor in vacuum as well as protection of the user from radiation.
• Swift camera piloted in a Tundra Cryo-EM at the UKRI-MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. The results confirmed the target specifications in terms of SNR, MTF and DQE were achieved.
• Early-adopters show their enthusiastic support to the above-mentioned achievements of the project, thus confirming the relevance of the project.
• Our Network Patent Analysis confirmed our freedom to operate in the field of Cryo-EM
• The work was disseminated in conferences, seminars and publications, as well as in dedicated web pages. As experimental results were obtained in the later phases of the project, what is common in project of this nature, based on development of hardware equipment, wider dissemination is still continuing and will increase its strength as new achievements are obtained.
• Our risk management plan was effective and successful in running the project to its final goals as described in the proposal submitted in October 2020, and this despite a changing global situation, with several unexpected crisis, like Covid pandemic, semiconductor supply crisis, or war in Ukraine, occurring during the duration of the project and testing the strength of our project to the limit.
• Our market analysis and competition monitoring supported the validity of our business model, which remains largely unchanged with respect to what we proposed in the submission of the proposal. The numbers that were put forward then remain valid, despite the varying geopolitical factors and above-mentioned global crisis. This confirms the robustness of our BP, that we are now ready to implement in the post-project industrialisation of the Swift camera.
• All documentation for the industrialisation of the Swift camera was prepared. This includes the review of required regulations in the most important areas of the world, like EU, USA, China or UK
• Through the prototyping work of this project, we could test and prepare the supply chain for the subsequent industrialisation phase. Support literature for the sales force, as well as for the installation and manufacturing of the Swift camera was prepared.
