Pushing the Boundaries of Fluorescence Imaging

Olympus has introduced a new, highly versatile, range of cutting-edge research microscope systems. The Olympus xcellence live cell imaging system range is designed to bring the most advanced fluorescent imaging techniques within easier reach, whilst pushing the very boundaries of optical imaging. The Unix-based controller provides the high-speed parallel component management required to ensure that each procedure can

capture the most advanced data. The xcellence software includes the Experiment Manager, a universal planning and execution tool with logic and simple drag-and-drop experiment construction. Olympus xcellence provides the ultimate system for imaging live cells over prolonged periods of time with the Olympus MT20 fluorescence lightsource providing highly stabilised mercury or mercury-xenon burner control with very fast filter,

attenuator and shutter changes. The new total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy module, cell^TIRF, features 4 laser lines with separate motorised angle control enabling synchronised acquisition with identical penetration depth. The xcellence software enables the user to set incident angles or penetration depths with ease, as well as running experiments with varying penetration depths. This, combined with the broadest selection of TIRFM objectives, provides a new level of precision in multi-colour TIRFM.

The cell^FRAP system offers the state-of-the-art in photo control technology, enabling advanced FRAP, iFRAP, FLIP, FLAP, photoactivation and photoconversion. Optically, the FRAP module can incorporate two separate laser lines or a laser combiner and is introduced into the microscope via a separate light-path to the camera and fluorescence illumination. This ensures full integration of FRAP with epi-fluorescence, TIRFM and laser spinning disk techniques, and enables simultaneous imaging and photo-manipulation as well as μsec switching. The Olympus cell^SPIN has been developed as a bright laser spinning disk confocal system with the highest emission efficiency on the market. What is more, as well as using optimised disks for perfect confocality with different objectives, the system has full control over the disk speed and offers a maximum speed of 5600rpm. As a result the Olympus cell^SPIN can provide up to 367 confocal images per second.