INCF endorses the MBF Bioscience neuromorphological file format
March 21, 2022
We are pleased to announce that the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) has endorsed the MBF Bioscience neuromorphological file format as
Vesselucida®360
Automatically reconstruct microvascular networksProduct Overview
Vesselucida 360 is designed to accurately segment and fully reconstruct vessels and microvasculature in 3D. Obtain reliable data about vascular length, connections, loops, and complexity of vessels and microvessels from small or large 3D images.
Vesselucida 360 software includes breakthrough quantitative analysis capabilities that empower researchers studying neurodegeneration, TBI, stroke, angiogenesis in cancer, diabetic retinopathy, and other conditions that affect microvasculature.
Key Benefits
- Fully reconstruct complete microvascular structures quickly and accurately
- Quantify changes in vasculature across models and cohorts
- Use a wide array of imaging techniques including light sheet and micro-CT
- Use comprehensive editing tools on the most challenging specimens to create the most accurate reconstructions and ground truth data
- Work with the most advanced algorithms for accurate detection and segmentation
- Pre-process data in batch with specialized vessel imaging filters
- Model and quantify cells, nuclei, and other punctate objects in the vascular environment
Model and quantify blood vessels from any organ and any species
Characterizing and understanding the vasculature in the brain and other organs is fundamental to identifying disease mechanisms that can ultimately uncover new treatment opportunities. With Vesselucida 360, you can quantitatively characterize vascular architecture in healthy tissue and analyze changes due to injury, age, and/or disease states.
We engineered Vesselucida 360 to provide the research community with a comprehensive solution for quantification of microvasculature structures. With an intuitive 3D environment, automatic detection and modelling of vessels from 3D microscopy image data is not only possible, but fast and easy. Robust tools for viewing and editing both reconstructions and 3D image data enable users to validate and revise reconstructions if needed.
Vesselucida 360 works on vessels in any species from a variety of labeling and microscopy techniques such as:
- Immunofluorescence
- Immunohistochemistry
- Animal models with fluorescent reporters
- Lectin perfusion
- Brightfield
- Widefield fluorescence
- Confocal
- Light sheet
- 2-Photon, Multi-Photon
- Micro-CT
- Whole brain or organ
- Cleared tissue
- Sectioned tissue
- Cultures
- Expanded tissue
Vesselucida 360 has been developed with support from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Recommended Hardware Requirements
Vesselucida 360 is a powerful software that can work with a wide range of image data of vastly different levels of size and complexity. Because of its flexibility, our recommendations for system configurations vary to balance the affordability of lower computing power for smaller data sets to more expensive high-end workstations for large, multi-channel data.
Please contact us to consult with our technical specialists for a more precise recommendation specific to your data needs.
| 64-bit Windows 11 operating system |
| CPU with 8 cores (16 threads) or more. More cores improve performance when using large data sets (>1 GB). |
| Solid state hard drive(s). Preferably, non-volatile memory express (NVMe) drives. |
| 64 GB of system memory or more. More memory is better for large data sets, especially for image handling and reconstruction in the 3D environment. |
| Graphics card with 8 GB memory or more. Most graphics cards from NVIDIA and AMD have been tested with MBF Bioscience software. |
| Minimum Hardware Requirements |
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| 64-bit Windows 10 operating system |
| 8 core processor (16 threads) |
| 32 GB memory |
| Graphics card with 6 GB memory or more: This is the minimum needed for the 3D environment, but is adequate for working only in 2D. |
| Computer-Hardware Upgrade Priorities |
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| To upgrade your system for better performance with MBF Bioscience software, we suggest that you prioritize computer hardware upgrades as follows: |
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Vesselucida Helps Researchers Quantify Post-Injury Capillary Damage and Regeneration
>> Learn More
New Therapy May Aid Heart Repair After Heart Attack
>> Learn More
Scientists use Vesselucida 360 to quantify brain vasculature in mTBI model
>> Learn More
Download Vesselucida 360 product sheet here.
Vesselucida® 360 Version 2024.1.1
Released July 2024
New Features and Enhancements:
- Enhanced the available options for surface display of traced objects in the 3D environment, including the option to include a legend, change colors, and adjust transparency
- New contour-type legend is available for display in the 3D window
- Typical process width setting is now available in the Automatic tracing Display seeds setup
- You can now exclude puncta from detection in locations with existing puncta
- After applying image filters using the Batch Pipeline, you can now begin tracing right away
- Added the ability to save an image crop in .tif format
- Added support for .dcm images
- The Image Scaling dialog box that appears when opening images now has updated, more helpful information
SPARC Users
- A term import and search feature was added to the tree and vessel classification dialogs to make it easier to find the anatomical structures you want
View Full Version History Here.
Automated reconstruction of vasculature in cleared, intact brain specimens
Key Features
Automatically reconstruct vasculature in 3D
Vesselucida 360 has automated and semi-automated methods for reconstructing vascular structures – from larger arteries and veins to smaller arterioles, venules, capillaries and anastomoses. The software reconstructs and identifies vascular loops within complex networks.
Key Features
Categorize vessel segments to improve data interpretation
Categorize individual segments or entire vascular beds using the Classify feature in Vesselucida 360. Assigning vessel types will help you communicate key features about your data, and help with downstream analyses and interpretation. Vessel names are customizable to your model organism or tissue type.
Key Features
Efficiently trace complex vascular networks with dynamic visualization tools
Vascular networks can be dense and intricate. The Vesselucida 360 subvolume tool enables you to visualize and dynamically trace manageable portions of these dense areas one at a time so that you can efficiently and effectively reconstruct vasculature according to ground truth. Save and name subvolume locations, clip tracings to subvolumes, and easily enter and exit subvolume mode to see the smaller or bigger picture.
Key Features
Advanced puncta detection with machine learning
Puncta detection in the 3D environment enables you to detect anything from whole cells like neutrophils, pericytes, to plaques, proteins, and any other punctate subcellular structures. Utilize the machine learning option to generate even more accurate puncta reconstructions by employing specific models of object size and appearance (e.g., for puncta, cell nuclei) that refine automatic puncta-detection parameters, leading to a more accurate identification of the puncta that interest you.
Key Features
Generate data that’s standardized, reliable, and FAIR
We support open science through data sharing, accessibility, integrity, and reproducibility. The published MBF Bioscience digital reconstruction data file format, the Neuromorphological File Specification (NFS), was recently endorsed as a standard by the INCF.
The data elements in this NFS format were implemented specifically to ensure that files produced in Vesselucida 360 are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR). Vesselucida 360 embraces these data standards and provides microscopy image and experimental data provenance to enhance the ease of repurposing data generated with the software. Encoded in the well-recognized and readable XML format, the modeling elements specify anatomical information in a calibrated 3D coordinate system with appropriate units. To learn more about the key elements of the file format and its relevant structural advantages, read our publication.
Key Features
Innovative image-handling for optimal 3D performance with data of all sizes
As researchers work with increasingly bigger and more complex image data files, high performance 3D visualization has become indispensable to effective data interpretation. With our intelligent image loading, maximized concurrent usage of CPU cores, multiple levels of data caching, and efficient use of RAM and GPU resources, you can now display and reconstruct your images faster than ever before to you make your scientific discoveries. Our software includes a versatile 3D-visualization environment suitable to most microscopy images, with state-of-the-art tools to support your analysis and publication needs. Whether you’re working with 2D or 3D image data, from two-photon, light sheet, confocal, or brightfield microscopy, our new high-tech imaging engine supports you and your data.
Automatically reconstruct arteries, veins, and capillaries with Vesselucida 360
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Who Is Using Vesselucida 360?
Vesselucida 360 is used across the globe by the most prestigious laboratories.
News About Vesselucida 360
Vesselucida Helps Researchers Quantify Post-Injury Capillary Damage and Regeneration
December 20, 2021
Our health depends on the ability of blood vessels to deliver nutrients and remove metabolic byproducts from organs and muscle systems.
New Therapy May Aid Heart Repair After Heart Attack
July 1, 2020
Researchers Quantify Improvement in Heart Vasculature with Vesselucida 360 and Vesselucida Explorer Cells need oxygen to survive, but during a heart
Cited in Peer Reviewed Scientific Publications
The utility of Vesselucida 360 is underscored by the number of references it receives in the world’s leading scientific publications. See examples below:
Alese, Lassig et al.
Characterization of cutaneous microvasculature with 3D imaging: a feasibility study in a cohort of head and neck surgery patients with attention to smoking statusView Publication
Buncha, V., K. A. Fopiano, et al.
Mice deficient in endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule develop left ventricle diastolic dysfunctionView Publication
Brady, E. L., O. Prado, et al.
Engineered tissue vascularization and engraftment depends on host modelView Publication
Jacobsen, N. L., C. E. Norton, et al.
Myofibre injury induces capillary disruption and regeneration of disorganized microvascular networksView Publication
Gama Sosa, M. A., R. De Gasperi, et al.
Late chronic local inflammation, synaptic alterations, vascular remodeling and arteriovenous malformations in the brains of male rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast overpressuresView Publication
Sullivan, A.E., Tappan, S.J., Angstman, P.J. et al.
A Comprehensive, FAIR File Format for Neuroanatomical Structure Modeling. Neuroinform (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12021-021-09530-xView Publication
Gama Sosa, M.A., De Gasperi, R., Pryor, D. et al.
Low-level blast exposure induces chronic vascular remodeling, perivascular astrocytic degeneration and vascular-associated neuroinflammation. acta neuropathol commun 9, 167 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-021-01269-5View Publication
Button, E.B., Boyce, G.K., Wilkinson, A. et al.
ApoA-I deficiency increases cortical amyloid deposition, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cortical and hippocampal astrogliosis, and amyloid-associated astrocyte reactivity in APP/PS1 mice. Alz Res Therapy 11, 44 (2019).View Publication
Yao, Y., Taub, A.B., LeSauter, J. et al.
Identification of the suprachiasmatic nucleus venous portal system in the mammalian brain. Nat Commun 12, 5643 (2021)View Publication
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What’s the difference between tracing vessels using Vesselucida 360 and tracing neuronal structures using Neurolucida 360?
Vesselucida 360 is designed to work with characteristics unique to vessels, which are represented with a graph structure that include loops, rather than neurons which are non-looping branching objects. Unlike Neurolucida 360, the tracing algorithms and data structure in Vesselucida 360 were specifically developed to model vascular loops. Companion software, Vesselucida Explorer, enables researchers to quantify the frequency and morphology of such anastomoses.
How can I quantify the vessel models created in Vesselucida 360?
With the companion analysis Vesselucida Explorer software, available for free with your Vesselucida 360 purchase, you can perform detailed morphometric analyses of your reconstructions. Obtain quantitative data from a plethora of network, segment, spatial, and puncta analyses with a few clicks. In addition, Vesselucida Explorer can generate graphical displays (e.g., convex hull) to visualize your quantitative data in intuitive ways–and generate figures for publications and presentations.
What are the differences between Vesselucida and Vesselucida 360?
Vesselucida 360 can automatically or semi-automatically reconstruct vasculature and anatomies from images and image stacks acquired using a variety of microscopy types. In contrast, Vesselucida includes microscope-control capability and manual tracing tools to reconstruct vessels in tissue specimen slides directly from a research microscope.
Are there tools for creating high-quality movies and images for publications?
Yes, you can create dynamic, high-resolution MP4 videos of your tracing and image data. You can export images or vector graphics from the main Vesselucida 360 window (2D) or take snapshots in the 3D environment.
Does Vesselucida 360 have any image post-processing tools?
Yes, Vesselucida 360 includes an image filter, specifically designed for vasculature data, that helps make vessels (and other hollow structures) appear solid. The vessel-filter first identifies the boundaries of labeled structures, then synthesizes a cross-section of even intensity based on a model adjusted to fit the input data. An evenly labeled foreground is generated to prepare the output image for automatic digital reconstruction.
I have so many images to process with Vesselucida 360 – can I generate data in batches?
Yes, Vesselucida 360 has sophisticated batch tracing tools. Identify automatic detection parameters that suit your data well, then easily apply the settings to multiple files with very limited user interaction.
To further expand your data throughput, you can batch-apply image filters, batch trace to create your reconstructions, then follow up with batch analyses using Vesselucida Explorer.
Testimonials
"Vesselucida 360 is an innovative tool for the characterization of cutaneous vasculature; using this tool, an increase in isolated elements was found to be associated with poorer wound healing outcomes ... Vesselucida 360 is a useful tool in objectively characterizing cutaneous microvascular structure via confocal microscopic tissue evaluation."
"I rarely have encountered a company so committed to support and troubleshooting as MBF."
"Vesselucida enables us to visualize and quantify microvascular networks in a way that has not been done before. The ability to render 3D maps is integral to analysis of network structure, remodeling and blood flow distribution."
"MBF Bioscience is extremely responsive to the needs of scientists and is genuinely interested in helping all of us in science do the best job we can."
"After examining different vessel quantification tools for use with neovessel formation in the heart, we chose to use Vesselucida 360 because it offered us flexibility in viewing and adjusting vessel geometries in 3D to accurately represent our microCT dataset. Also, the quantitative parameter extrapolation is excellent."
"I am so happy to be a customer of your company. I always get great help related with your product or not. With the experienced members, you are the best team I've ever met. All of your staff are very kind and helpful. Thank you for your great help and support all the time."
"We’ve been very happy for many years with MBF products and the course of upgrades and improvements. Your service department is outstanding. I have gotten great help from the staff with the software and hardware."
"Using Vesselucida, we were able to assess changes in resistance network architecture during muscle regeneration for the first time. We were limited by other imaging methods due to the network size and location of arteriolar networks within skeletal muscle. Vesselucida uniquely enabled us to reconstruct and analyze intact arteriolar networks in 3 dimensions with micrometer resolution over distances spanning millimeters to centimeters."
"The support team at MBF Bioscience has been great to work with. As a beta test site for Vesselucida, we are in constant communication. Their staff is professional & responsive to the problems we have identified & our requests for specific applications."
Robust Professional Support
Our service sets us apart, with a team that includes Ph.D. neuroscientists, experts in microscopy, stereology, neuron reconstruction, and image processing. We’ve also developed a host of additional support services, including:
- Forums
We have over 25 active forums where open discussions take place.
>> Learn More - On-Site/Training
We’ve conducted over 750 remote software installations.
>> Learn More - Webinars
We’ve created over 55 webinars that demonstrate our products & their uses.
>> Learn More
Request an Expert Demonstration
We offer both a free expert demonstration and a free trial copy of Vesselucida 360. During your demonstration you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your hardware, software, or experimental design questions with our team of Ph.D. neuroscientists and experts in microscopy, vessel tracing, and image processing.
During your free trial, use the tips and suggestions from a free, expert evaluation and find out how easy Vesselucida 360 is to use and how quickly you can obtain useful data.
