How to display quick-updating images without large memory allocation?

Question

I\'ve got a WPF application on an ultrasound machine that displays ultrasound images generated in C++ at a speed upwards of 30 frames per second.

From what I underst

Answer 1

Here's some code I wrote* for aliasing (sharing memory) between a WPF BitmapSource and a GDI Bitmap (for my own project)

Obviously, you'll need to tweak it for your own needs, it'll probably end up with a less "hacky" feel in the end.

class AliasedBitmapSource : BitmapSource {
    private Bitmap source;
    public AliasedBitmapSource(Bitmap source) {
        this.source = source;
        this.pixelHeight = source.Height;
        this.pixelWidth = source.Width;
        this.dpiX = source.HorizontalResolution;
        this.dpiY = source.VerticalResolution;
    }

    public override event EventHandler DownloadCompleted;
    public override event EventHandler<ExceptionEventArgs> DownloadFailed;
    public override event EventHandler<ExceptionEventArgs> DecodeFailed;

    protected override Freezable CreateInstanceCore() {
        throw new NotImplementedException();
    }

    private readonly double dpiX;
    public override double DpiX {
        get {
            return dpiX;
        }
    }

    private readonly double dpiY;
    public override double DpiY {
        get {
            return dpiY;
        }
    }

    private readonly int pixelHeight;
    public override int PixelHeight {
        get {
            return pixelHeight;
        }
    }

    private readonly int pixelWidth;
    public override int PixelWidth {
        get {
            return pixelWidth;
        }
    }

    public override System.Windows.Media.PixelFormat Format {
        get {
            return PixelFormats.Bgra32;
        }
    }

    public override BitmapPalette Palette {
        get {
            return null;
        }
    }

    public unsafe override void CopyPixels(Int32Rect sourceRect, Array pixels, int stride, int offset) {
        BitmapData sourceData = source.LockBits(
        sourceRect.ToRectangle(),
        ImageLockMode.ReadWrite,
        System.Drawing.Imaging.PixelFormat.Format32bppArgb);

        fixed (byte* _ptr = &((byte[])pixels)[0]) {
            byte* dstptr = _ptr;
            byte* srcptr = (byte*)sourceData.Scan0;

            for (int i = 0; i < pixels.Length; ++i) {
                *dstptr = *srcptr;
                ++dstptr;
                ++srcptr;
            }
        }

        source.UnlockBits(sourceData);
    }
}

public static class Extensions {
    public static Rectangle ToRectangle(this Int32Rect me) {
        return new Rectangle(
        me.X,
        me.Y,
        me.Width,
        me.Height);
    }

    public static Int32Rect ToInt32Rect(this Rectangle me) {
        return new Int32Rect(
        me.X,
        me.Y,
        me.Width,
        me.Height);
    }
}

*by "wrote" I mean "threw together in 10 minutes"

Answer 2

If you are using the lastest WPF bits check out WriteableBitmap, you'll have to do more of the leg work but you'll really fast updates.

Do a quick google and you'll get some samples.