Motorized stage is easy to adjust

Prior Scientific has introduced the ZDeck Quick Adjust Platform System for Olympus BX51WI and BX61WI microscopes. The motorized stage allows the user to image multiple areas of interest with speed and precision. It lowers quickly and easily via pneumatic pistons, providing easy access for loading and unloading of samples.

No tools are required for height adjustment, simplifying the transition of changing between a thin sample and whole animal imaging heights. Condenser and pillar spacers are included with the system to allow for Koehler illumination at a wide range of focus heights. The system incorporates a custom Prior Scientific ProScan series high precision motorized stage which provides submicron repeatability and smooth movement.

The high precision motorized stage is controlled by the new ProScan III controller and PS3J100 joystick which provide ultra-fine control via dual digipots. Oversized plates are provided on both sides of the sample area for mounting micromanipulators. The ProScan series stage can also be equipped with encoders for applications that require the ultimate in high precision, and it is compatible with 6mm or 1/4-20 vibration isolation tables.

More information at www.prior.com.

HD comes to electron microscopy

Carl Zeiss has introduced the EVO HD conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM). The system delivers higher resolution at low acceleration voltages compared to present conventional SEM and bring High Definition to electron microscopy.

The new EVO HD source has a higher brightness, which offers a better resolution at low-kV than conventional tungsten SEMs. The source also aids analytical applications, giving a 30% increase in resolution at 30kV and 1nA.

The company says that numerous applications in both life sciences and materials analysis will benefit from the increased performance of the microscope.

Caption: This image of a scale from butterfly wing (Pieris Brassicae) was taken on the EVO HD electron microscope at 5kV acceleration voltage.

More information about the microscope here.

IR now available from LED microscope illuminator

DiCon LED has expanded the wavelengths available from its LED Microscope Illuminator to include 730 nm and 850 nm options. These IR wavelengths are useful for applications like non-invasive real-time imaging, IR fluorescence, as well as standard microscopy and machine vision.

The Microscope Illuminator is a replacement for halogen and tungsten light sources. LED illumination offers low energy expenditure, low power consumption, and instant wavelength switching. The user can manually adjust pre-programmed color settings and intensity levels or create customized strobe effects. Additionally, through DiCon's LightControl software, the user can program custom light sequences, or “Profiles” that control color, fade, modulation frequency, and duration. These “Profiles” are then accessible manually after being downloaded into the unit, or they can be externally triggered for syncing with cameras and other peripheral equipment.

DiCon LED distributes the LED Microscope Illuminator through Edmund Optics. More information here.

Industrial microscope for large samples

Carl Zeiss has released its Axio Imager Vario microscope, which is designed for examining large samples such as solar cells, wafers or flat panel displays. It is ideal for research, development, quality control, material analysis and development.

The stable construction of the column and its precise guidance allows easy adjustment of the sample area dimension and sample space. The company offers a variety of stages and sample holders for use with the microscope, including a manual stage with 200 mm travel range for reflected and transmitted light, a manual stage with 300 mm travel range for reflected light, a scanning stage with 200 mm travel range for reflected and transmitted light, and a scanning stage with 300 mm travel range for reflected light and 200 mm travel range for transmitted light. In addition there are several types of insert plates and sample holders available.

The microscope's reflected-light illuminator with apochromatically corrected field lens provides homogeneous illumination of the field of view and reduction of stray light. This results in improved contrast with all contrasting techniques.

More information at http://www.zeiss.de/axioimagervario.

Microscope Automation System

Prior Scientific has introduced the ProScan III Microscope Automation System. The modular system can control up to 16 axes including a motorized stage, focus drive, three filter wheels and three shutters with speed, accuracy and precision. It features a small footprint and a faster stage speed thanks to an improved processor.

Communication to the controller uses a true USB with a direct HID connection available, making the unit both Windows and Mac compatible. The Interactive Control Center (ICC) provides centralized manual control of all equipment. The screen provides positional feedback while the joystick, buttons and digipots control accessories such as a stage, focus drive, filter wheels, and shutters. New features in the center allow the user to measure distances, label filter wheel positions with dye names (e.g., DAPI, FITC, etc.) and take fine control of the stage for intricate movements.

More information at www.prior.com.

Three new upright microscopes for clinical/research laboratories

Olympus has unveiled its BX3 line of upright clinical and research microscopes with new ergonomic and imaging features that provide comfort, ease of use and accuracy. The line succeeds the Olympus BX2 microscopes and includes the BX43 System Microscope for clinical laboratory applications, the BX46 Clinical Microscope with ergonomic design and fast observation, and the BX53 System Microscope for research/clinical applications. All three systems employ the company’s proprietary UIS2 optics, which deliver ultra-sharp, bright images and are manufactured from lead-free glass.

The microscopes allow users to record and share microscope magnification and setting information automatically for comparing, measuring and scaling images. An exposure button lets researchers capture digital images without taking their hands off the microscope.

The BX43 and BX46 are designed for efficiency and comfort in clinical applications. They feature a bright LED lamp with halogen-like color fidelity that uses less energy and lasts approximately 20,000 hours. A Light Intensity Manager eliminates the need to make manual adjustments when changing magnifications. Users can select either left- or right-handed microscope operation. New to both instruments is an optional tilting, telescoping and lifting observation tube, which allows users to adjust the height, front-to-back position and tilt angle of the eyepieces independently. The BX46 features a stage height just three inches above the tabletop, which reduces fatigue, and a fixed stage that provides stability and accuracy in specimen positioning.

The BX53 research/clinical system offers new fluorescence optics and filters, including improved hard-coating technology and a unique fly’s eye array that delivers higher-quality images by providing more even illumination. It offers a unique motion sensor that detects when the user steps away from the instrument, automatically turning off the lamp after approximately 30 minutes, thus saving energy and providing longer lamp life. Both the BX43 and BX53 offer an optional new condenser that accommodates magnifications from 2x to 100x without requiring a swing-top lens.

More information at www.olympusamerica.com/BX3.

Scientific CMOS camera for fast low-light imaging

Hamamatsu has introduced the ORCA-Flash2.8 camera. It is the company's first high-sensitivity digital camera based on a next-generation scientific CMOS image sensor. Designed for low-light imaging at high frame rates, the camera combines high resolution, high sensitivity, high speed, and low noise at an affordable price

The camera's new scientific CMOS image sensor, the FL-280, has 2.8 megapixels and a pixel size of 3.63 x 3.63 µm, ensuring high resolution. The sensor’s wavelength sensitivity ranges from UV to visible, with peak sensitivity (over 60% QE) at about 450-500 nm. The sensor features low readout noise, typically 3 electrons r.m.s. The sensor’s design keeps the readout noise minimal even at very fast readout speeds, unlike traditional image sensors. The FL-280 sensor also has low dark current. Because of its intrinsically low dark current, the sensor requires cooling to +5°C only.

Built for high-speed imaging, the camera's readout speed ranges from 45 frames/second at full resolution up to 1273 frames/second with sub-array readout. Other features include external trigger functions, real-time corrections, and analog gain. It is suitable for a wide variety of applications including ratio imaging, FRET, FISH, TIRF microscopy, and real-time confocal microscopy. The camera will be shown at Analytica 2010 in Munich, Germany, from March 23 to March 26. Demo cameras will be available in May 2010.

More information here.

New atomic force microscope

Veeco Instruments Inc. has released the Dimension Edge atomic force microscope (AFM) system for physical and life sciences investigation. The mid-priced system has a proprietary closed-loop and drift-compensated stage that allows the productivity, accuracy, and sample versatility of a large-sample, closed-loop system combined with the high-resolution images traditionally only achieved by small-sample, open-loop systems. The system’s lower noise levels allows collection of the fine details critical to material identification, while protecting fragile tips and samples, and diminishing tip artifacts. The microscope has a 5-megapixel digital camera and an180 to 1465 μm viewing area. It can be used for applications such as characterizing solar and semiconductor devices, mapping of heterogeneous polymer-based materials, and in situ imaging of life science samples from single molecules to whole cells.

More information here.

White light confocal microscope

Andor Technology introduced the Revolution DSD confocal system at the Biophysical Society 54th Annual Meeting. It is based on a differential spinning disk optical system that works with the company’s Clara interline CCD camera and is controlled by an IQ work station.

The microscopy system connects to any microscope’s side port and uses white light instead of lasers, which lowers the cost. Active background subtraction delivers high contrast, low background images. The spinning disk can be used at 50% transmission for high-sectioning mode or 25% transmission for high-contrast mode.

Excitation ranges from 340 to 800 nm, and filters allow the excitation of UV, visible, and NIR optical probes. The user can easily switch wavelengths or between wide field and confocal imaging. Operating with objective magnifications from 10 to 100X makes the system suitable for live cell, tissue and whole embryo applications.

More information here.

High power red and green LEDs for fluorescence microscopy

Prizmatix has added 520-nm and 630-nm ultra high power LEDs to its modular OptiBlocks family. The LEDs can be used as excitation sources for fluorescence microscopy. The UHP-Mic-LED-520 provides greater than 0.5 Watts of collimated green LED output power and its LED driver supports CW or pulsed operation. The UHP-Mic-LED-630 provides greater than 1 W of collimated red LED ouput power. Both are compatible with Prizmatix modular microscope LED light source products, and allow narrowing of the LED spectrum with an optional band pass filter installed in the head. The light sources can also be used for small animal imaging, photoactivation, FRAP, and FISH.

More information at www.prizmatix.com.

Hand-held microscope with LCD display

The newly launched iLoupe XL hand-held microscope features a two-inch LCD display, 3 to 300 times magnification, and a 5.1-megapixel imaging sensor. Manufactured exclusively for Aven Inc., it can capture any angle thanks to a lens tube that rotates 180 degrees. The microscope captures JPEG images that can be stored on an included SD card.

The microscope can be used for applications such as materials analysis, quality control inspection, lab work, crime scene investigation, scientific field studies, illustrated presentations, and education research. The 2.5 X 6 X 1.5 inch unit has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that allows 5 hours of continuous operation or up to 7 hours of standby time.
More information at www.aveninc.com.

Green 532 nm laser for fluorescence microscopy

Coherent Inc. has added 532-nm (green) lasers to its Sapphire family of compact CW visible lasers, which are based on the company’s OPSL technology. Users can choose a model with an output of either 200 mW or 300 mW. Like others in the Sapphire line, the new lasers provide a high quality TEM00 output beam characterized by low noise (0.25 % rms). The company says that compact packaging (125 mm x 70 mm x 34 mm) combined with low power consumption allows easier integration and lower cost of ownership for OEM instrument builders. The 532-nm lasers have the same form, fit and function as existing Sapphire LP series lasers at other wavelengths.

Most traditional CW 532 nm lasers based on Nd:YVO4 crystals suffer from higher output noise because the intracavity doubling mechanism causes a well-known phenomenon called green noise. In contrast the OPSL has a very short upper state lifetime which naturally eliminates green noise completely without additional measures such as complex single longitudinal mode operation. The lasers are ideal for applications that use fluorophores with 532 nm excitation such as DNA sequencing, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and high-throughput drug discovery.

More information at www.coherent.com.

Polarizer added to handheld microscope

I mentioned the Digital Mighty Scope in my earlier post, Five digital microscopes under $300. Now, the second generation of the handheld microscope is being released from Aven Inc. It features a contrast-enhancing polarizer for viewing and taking digital close-ups of polished metal, silicon chips, ceramic, glass, and other shiny objects. In addition to industrial quality control, polarized light microscopy also is ideal for examining minerals, polymers and biological materials.

The microscope is like a mini-camera that zooms, providing polarized light views of electronic components, manufacturing parts, circuit boards, crystals and other items. Users can detect hairline cracks or other microscopic defects, as well as identify specimens reliably.

The microscope has magnifications adjustable from 10 to 200X. A brightness wheel allows fingertip control of polarized illumination from six white LEDs. Active pixel sensors provide sharp images and accurate color reproduction from the 1.3-megapixel camera. A USB connection to any laptop or desktop computer lets users edit images, share them and add them to presentations or publications. Microsoft-compatible software is included, with an upgraded version available as an option to provide a broader range of image annotation, measurement and manipulation.

The company will demonstrate its advanced Digital Mighty Scope at Pittcon 2010 in Orlando, Fla., next month.

More information at www.aveninc.com.

Tunable bandpass filters

Semrock has released the VersaChrome tunable bandpass filter family. The filters offer wavelength tunability over a wide range of wavelengths by adjusting the angle of incidence with essentially no change in spectral performance. A tuning range of greater than 12% of the normal-incidence wavelength means only five filters are required to cover the full visible spectrum.

The filters offer the benefits of thin-film interference filters combined with the center wavelength tuning speed and flexibility of a diffraction grating. They have an average transmission of greater than 90% with steep edges and wideband blocking. The first release of catalog filters have wavelength ranges from 390 to 700 nm. The company has the 25.2 x 35.6 x 2.0 mm size in stock, and custom sizing may be done in less than a week. The technology is ideal for fluorescence microscopy, imaging, and quantitation applications, as well as spectral imaging, and high-throughput spectroscopy.

For more information visit: www.semrock.com.

Flat top stage for live cell studies

Prior has released the H117P2IX flat top stage for the Olympus IX series of inverted microscopes. It is ideal for high-precision biomedical and material science scanning operations, and is especially useful for prolonged live cell studies. The newest version of the H117P2IX stage maximizes nosepiece access for correction collar adjustment by using miniaturized drive boxes. Drive components are mounted below the top plate, providing easy access for micromanipulators, environmental chambers and robotic loaders. The stage allows scanning with a broad range of sample holders, including microtitre plates, slide holders, petri dishes, well plates, flasks, haemocytometers and metallurgical sample holders. Stages can be driven by the Prior series of motor controllers or compatible systems in existing OEM configurations.
For more information visit www.prior.com.

Power measurement for fluorescence microscopy

The X-Cite XR2100 Power Meter and the XP750 Objective Plane Power Sensor for fluorescence microscopy are new from EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc.’s Life Sciences and Industrial Division. The products allow microscopists to measure the optical power at the specimen to ensure consistent and repeatable illumination throughout their experiments.

The X-Cite XR2100 power meter (pictured) has a control keypad interface and can store power measurements or export them to a computer, allowing power data files to be kept with imaging data. The Objective Plane Power Sensor fits on the microscope stage and can measure output from an X-Cite illuminator or any other epifluorescence light source, including HBO/mercury, metal halide or xenon lamps, lasers and LEDs. It has is sensitive to powers from 5 µW to 500 mW at 320 nm to 750 nm.

More information here.

Use one laser for two multiphoton microscopes

At the Society for Neuroscience conference last week, Olympus introduced new accessories for two-photon confocal microscopy. The new Laser Sharing System, Dual-Port SIM Scanner, and Multi-Point SIM scanner software enhance the capabilities of the company’s FluoView FV1000-MPE multiphoton system.

The Laser Sharing System lets researchers use a single Spectra-Physics Mai Tai DeepSee laser system to perform imaging experiments on two separate Olympus multiphoton systems. It optically redirects laser light to the second multiphoton system, providing flexibility and saving money for those who want to install multiple two-photon instruments. The microscopes can be used simultaneously with the laser if using the same wavelength of light.

The Dual-Port SIM (Simultaneous) Scanner is for experimental protocols requiring photobleaching with both visible and infrared (IR) light. With the scanner, the user can use both wavelengths without changing any optics or fibers, eliminating laser alignment issues, saving time, and cutting down on hassles that can interfere with imaging.

The SIM scanner software is useful for neuronal spine research in that it lets the user rapidly stimulate multi-point areas. The software has a dedicated neuroscience application and enables control of the scanner, laser, and dataset for stimulation applications used in uncaging or channel rhodopsin experiments. The software visualizes the signal not only from the confocal photomultiplier tube (PMT) but also from electrophysiology patch-clamp equipment through a new interface unit.

More information here.

Data management software for cellular imaging

PerkinElmer Inc. launched the Columbus 2.0 platform at the High Content Analysis East conference in Boston this week. The high content screening (HCS) data management software is designed for cellular imaging and analysis and provides a central repository to import, export, and manage cell image data. The latest edition has faster interfacing between images and data management and is fully web-enabled, meaning it can be used without installing software. One installation can serve an entire laboratory, department or even organization.

It is fully compliant with the Open Microscopy Environment (OME) and uses the OMERO server, developed by the OME, which enables it to support a wide range of file formats, allowing flexible, rapid and high performance analysis of images regardless of their origin. The software comes in two versions: Columbus Gallery, which provides data archiving, management, and visualization; and Columbus Conductor, which comes with the Gallery functions but also allows analyzing or reanalyzing of HCS data from PerkinElmer's Opera or Operetta imaging readers image data from other instruments using Acapella image analysis software.

More information here.

Mounting media for quantum dot microscopy

Qmount Qdot mounting media from Invitrogen preserves the fluorescence signal of Qdot nanocrystals so that microscopy images can be obtained with no loss of signal intensity initially and over several months. The mounting media is compatible with all eight Qdot nanocrystals, their conjugates, and the nuclear counterstain, Qnuclear Deep Red stain, making it useful for multicolor imaging with the nanocrystals. The solution comes ready-to-use in a dropper bottle. The non-aqueous, permanent mountant cures within 12 hours and has a refractive index of 1.5 when fully cured. It is not recommended for use with standard organic dyes or fluorescent proteins.

More information here.

Calcium assay kit

Enzo Life Sciences has introduced a new assay kit for monitoring calcium mobilization in live cells. The FluoForte Calcium Assay Kit can measure calcium changes in challenging cell lines and with difficult receptors, generating a strong green fluorescence signal. The homogeneous assay can be used for analyzing G protein-coupled receptor and calcium ion channel targets. It does not require a wash step or the addition of a quencher dye, which could potentially modify pharmacological parameters. The FluoForte dye can be loaded at 37 °C or room temperature, and thus can be used for high throughput screening applications in drug discovery. The kit has been validated on a range of microplate-based readers as well as on flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy platforms. Starter and high-throughput kits are available or the dye is available as a stand-alone reagent. 



More information at www.enzolifesciences.com.

Image: Hela cells were seeded overnight at 40,000 cells per 100 µL per well in a 96-well black wall/clear bottom costar plate. The growth medium was removed, and the cells were incubated with 100 µl of 4 uM Fluo-3 AM, Fluo-4 AM or FluoForte AM in HHBS at 37 °C, 5% CO2 incubator for 1 hour. The cells were washed twice with 200 µl HHBS, ATP (20 µL/well) was added to achieve concentrations of 100 nM with dye efflux inhibitor, then immediately imaged with a fluorescence microscope (Zeiss) using FITC channel.