Cortiview 2 - the data acquisition app on a tablet screen held by a researcher.

Expanding the vision: creating a neurophysiological data acquisition app from scratch

## Background

The Cortivision Startup Company Logo in black and white
Cortivision is a company specializing in neuroscience solutions, including near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). With a few years of established presence in the market, they challenge the position of the biggest players in the domain. Currently, they release a new hardware platform (Cortivision Spectrum) coupled with the latest measurement acquisition application (Cortiview 2). Their requirement was that the new application is implemented in Python (PySide) to ensure compatibility with the Client’s other products and allow potential integration with them.

## The Problem

As the Client assessed that the realization of the planned road map is under threat, they were looking for an experienced software engineer to drive the development of their data acquisition app, Cortiview 2, who could review the existing code base, design architecture for the new version of the application, and implement crucial pieces of code. Moreover, the project’s scope also included building competencies inside the Client’s team and establishing good programming practices for further successful development.

## The Solution

After careful analysis, we came up with a solution for the data acquisition app consisting of the following steps:

1. Auditing the existing codebase.
2. Designing new architecture, including backend/frontend split and interface definition.
3. Creating HW mockups allowing the development process without physical HE.
4. Creating PoC using the new architecture.
5. Refactoring the existing code towards a new structure.
6. Implementing new core functionalities.

## The Process

We cooperated in a small team: the Client’s CTO and Head of Software, their two software engineers, and our software engineer. The workflow was organized fully remotely. Consequently, meetings were handled using long-range communication.

The final decisions were up to the Client’s executives. During the project, the Client hired another software engineer. Our software engineer participated in the recruitment and onboarding processes.

## The Effect

Thanks to our cooperation, the Client met their target deadline for the device’s demonstration with their primary goal – a fully functional new HW platform controlled by the new acquisition software Cortiview 2. This resulted in the product’s:
  • Better UX: improved user experience thanks to a refreshed technological stack.
  • Synergy effect: multiple projects can share algorithms.
  • Scalability: multiple HW devices can be handled using a single acquisition app.

## Cortiview 2 Project Resources

The data acquisition app is a piece of software dedicated to Cortivision SPECTRUM, a functional near-infrared spectroscope (fNIRS). It measures the hemodynamic response of the selected brain areas in a non-invasive way.
The below images of the device originate from Cortivision’s official product information booklets.

A woman wearing Cortivision Spectrum NIRS by a neuroscience medtech company Cortivision.
More detailed images of Cortivision Spectrum - the hardware for which we perfected the data acquisition app.

Recommendations

We had the pleasure of collaborating with slashdev SDG UG on a complex project, which involved supporting our development team in creating new Python-based software for acquiring physiological signals from a device communicating wirelessly. One of the main challenges was to build an intuitive GUI capable of rendering real-time graphs while maintaining optimal application performance.

Throughout the project, the slashdev team demonstrated exceptional commitment, going beyond standard solutions to find the best possible outcomes. Their strong communication skills and openness to understanding technical solutions outside the typical IT domain—especially within the realm of neurophysiology—greatly contributed to the project’s success.

The project was delivered on time, and slashdev also provided valuable insights for streamlining our internal processes, sharing best practices that will benefit our team in the long run. We highly appreciate their proactive approach and ability to think outside the box, making them a trusted partner for any software development endeavor.

Wojtek Broniatowski - COO of CortiVision Sp. z o.o.
Wojtek Broniatowski, COO
CortiVision Sp. z o.o.

About the Cortiview 2 project

## Project Background

Cortiview 2 is a software project aiming to visualize brain activity clearly and aesthetically. The application comes with the Cortivision SPECTRUM spectroscope with accessories for professional neuroscientists.

The Client required an experienced software engineer with a knack for research projects. Their role was to drive the development of Cortiview 2: review the existing code base, design architecture for the new version of the data acquisition app, and implement crucial pieces of code. The project’s scope also included building competencies inside the Client’s team and establishing good programming practices for further successful development.

## The Team

The most fitting person for the task was Piotr – a data scientist, engineer, and mathematician. With his vast knowledge, inquisitiveness and drive for scientific and structured data analysis, he was the perfect match for the job.

## The Result

Thanks to Piotr’s engagement, the Client was able to reach their goal – a fully functional new HW platform controlled by the new acquisition software, Cortiview 2. This resulted in better user experience, scalability, and algorythm synergy.

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