Microscopy
IMAGING MACHINE
FOR AUTOMATED MICROSCOPY
- Smart Image Acquisition
- High positioning resolution and accuracy
- No mechanical perturbation of samples thanks to fixed stage and moving optics
- Data storage & processing integrated
- Optional module for photomanipulation
Applications
ZEBRAFISH
...learn more about our zebrafish applications
- Dorsal orientation tool
- Lateral orientation tool
- Image optimization – Deconvolution
- Smart Imaging interface (TCP based)
- Visualization tools
DROSOPHILA
- Large / thick 3D specimen
- Image optimization / de-blurring
- Smart Imaging interface (TCP based)
(TIME-LAPSE) CELL BASED
- Optimized Temperature control – unique laminar flow design for MT plates
- Light power sensor at sample level
- precise re-positioning (linear motor axis + 1nm resolution encoder)
- Laser Autofocus
- Smart Imaging Interface (TCP based)
YEAST
- Static MT plate holder (for very force sensitive yeast lines)
- Laser Autofocus
- Yeast optimized image based auto-focus
- Image processing workflows
- Robotic sample preparation expertise
- Smart Imaging interface (TCP based)
LARGE PROJECTS
- Designed for single and multi Imaging Machine projects
- HIVE Data module integration allows seamless project scaling
- Light power, temperature, motor sensors designed for optimized data reproducibility
- Small benchtop design optimal for multi machine setups
- Smart Imaging interface (TCP based)
ROBOTIC INTEGRATION
- TCP/IP interface allows remote control from many software packages
- Robotic lid allows easy gripper access
- Sensors for position, light and temperature render hardware calibration routines obsolete
An easy-to-use tool for visualizing high content screening data and supervised feedback microscopy
The ACQUIFER Plate-Viewer software is an easy-to-use gateway to large-scale image datasets acquired with the ACQUIFER Imaging Machine. It provides an intuitive overview of screening data in combination with functionalities to enhance image features, save data visualizations or time-lapse movies as well as supervised feedback microscopy functionalities, i.e. the selection of region of interest to be subsequently centred on the ACQUIFER Imaging Machine.
Key Features
- Intuitive visualization of multidimensional screening datasets.
- Easy browsing of well coordinates, z-slices, timepoints and subpositions.
- Display of single slices or z-projections (min and max projection).
- Look-Up tables and histogram adjustments.
- Data export of single images, z-projections, z-stacks or time-series in various standard file formats (tif, jpg, png, bmp, mp4).
- Select regions of interest for feedback microscopy using the built-in click-tool or automated object detection.
- Modify ACQUIFER Imaging Machine scripts to conduct pre-scan / re-scan experiments, e.g. zoom-in on regions of interest.
- For advanced users: generate plugins to process images with various software packages (e.g. Fiji/ImageJ…).
Technical Specifications IM
| Z axis range | 25 mm, 1nm resolution, linear motor , absolute encoded Z axis design optimized for speed and precision (for data deconvolution) |
| XY axis range | Linear Motors with absolute position encoder, 1nm resolution 120 mm x 80 mm, 1nm resolution, linear motor, absolute encoded |
| typical LED lifetime | > 15.000 hours on-time |
| Objectives | 2x, 4x, 10x, 20x, 40x (Nikon) |
| Mechanical design | Static sample holder, moving optics block Linear Motors with absolute position encoder, 1nm resolution |
| LED power sensor | Power Sensor at MT plate level |
| LED light wavelengths | 385, 405, 455, 470, 505, 528, 595, 625 nm |
| LED light source | Omicron LED-HUB , up to 6 modules parallel, temperature controlled |
| Fluo Filter sets mono | any 25mm “Semrock” combination – see Semrock-Fluo-table |
| Fluo Filter sets duo-quad | in combination with LED light source module for ultra fast switching |
| Fluo Filter blocks | custom type, up to 5 |
| Camera | Hamamatsu sCMOS 2k x 2k |
| Temperature + CO2 | |
| CO2 | via external controller |
| Incubation type | robotic lid + integrated laminar flow, pressure free |
| Incubation range | 20°C – 40°C * if T > ambient temp +3 °C |
| Remote control | optional via TCP based commands from any software |
| Focussing | Laser Autofocus @780nm and image based Autofocus (standard, yeast) |
| Power | 120V - 240V |
| Ambient conditions | 18°-25°C / 65° – 77 ° F (Indoor use), Relative humidity 30%-80% (without condensation) |
| Weight | 62 kg |
| H x W x D | 553mm x 528mm x 555mm |
Downloads
THE ACQUIFER IMAGING MACHINE: AN AUTOMATED MICROSCOPY PLATFORM FOR HIGH- THROUGHPUT SCREENING OF BUDDING YEAST
The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an eukaryotic microorganism, is a powerful model organism to address biomedical research questions on the genome-scale using growth or biochemical assays. This is complemented by large-scale imaging screens using automated high-throughput microscopy to visualize fluorescent reporter localizations. This allows monitoring the full yeast proteome via GFP fusion proteins or any phenotype that can be followed by a fluorescent marker. Due to the small cell sizes, photosensitivity and non- adherence of yeast cells, these high throughput screening assays demand advanced automated imaging platforms that are capable of robustly and reproducibly acquiring high-resolution datasets for visualization and scoring of cellular and sub-cellular phenotypes.
ACQUIFER SMART IMAGING: AN INTERFACE FOR REMOTE CONTROLLING AND UNSUPERVISED FEEDBACK MICROSCOPY ON THE IMAGING MACHINE
High content screening is routinely employed to automatically acquire multi-dimensional image datasets at fixed positions within wells of microtiter plates. While this is sufficient for many applications, it imposes rather inflexible screening workflows as imaging positions are pre-defined by users, often regardless of specimen location or sample characteristics. This can lead to acquisition of unnecessary datasets, omission of features of interest and could hinder more complex assays that would depend on real-time analysis of image data.
THE ACQUIFER PLATEVIEWER: A TOOL FOR VISUALIZING HIGH CONTENT SCREENING DATA AND SUPERVISED FEEDBACK MICROSCOPY
Modern High Content Screening microscopes allow rapid automated imaging of entire microtiter plates by imaging fixed positions within each well. This is ideal for in-vitro cell culture based readouts or other assays with evenly distributed phenotypes. However, it imposes limitations when large specimen or rare events are studied. The limited field of view of objectives often force users to utilize low magnification lenses leading to low resolution data or accept the omission of features of interest in many wells.
BROCHURES
WHY IMAGING MACHINE?
We developed our Imaging Machine for easy, precise, robust and smart high content screening applications without the need for an expert to manage the experiment. We focused on integrated data management, long term data transparency, sensitive samples and a robust machine technology. In other words: Imaging Machines are designed for everyone to use.