Motorized Microscope | Motorized Microscope

Key Words: live cell imaging, cell culture, telemicroscopy, Image analysis

Definition:A microscope incorporating motorized components that can be operated remotely via appropriate software

TECHNOLOGY:

Many microscopes incorporate a number of motorized components (for example, stages, filter changer, focus, magnification changer) that can be operated remotely through a PC equipped with appropriate software. Motorized functions are fundamental to automated microscope operation, remote operation through third parties, and to precise and accurately repeatable functions.

APPLICATIONS:

Motorization of key microscope functions has benefits across both industrial and biological environments - enabling 24/7 remote operation and the possibility to share functions and images through telemicroscopy. Motorization is essential in any high throughput imaging environment, such as in the pharmaceutical industry and in automated quality control processes. Automated imaging is also of great value in situations where contamination must be avoided - for example in clean rooms or during cell culture, where imaging must take place out of normal working hours (for example, in extended time-lapse studies) or where vibration and other operator errors must be avoided.

MICROSCOPE CONFIGURATION:

Motorized components are often incorporated in advanced research microscopes and, in most cases, can be retrofitted as required. Nikon offers a number of motorized microscopy systems. BioSation, for example, is an automated imaging system within the cell incubator. This avoids the need to remove culture vessels from the incubator for microscopic inspection and minimizes risk of contamination to both cells and operators. Nikon also offers motorized functions on its research level biological microscopes such as the 90i upright research microscope and Ti series inverted microscopes and LV100A industrial microscope. Researchers can select a technique of choice by simply clicking on it - the condenser, analyzer, light intensity, diaphragm and other units will switch automatically. Control of the microscope and monitoring of status can be carried out via a PC. Setting preferences can also be registered for each individual user and quickly recalled anytime.

RECOMMENDED SYSTEM:

Nikon's NIS-Elements software provides a unified platform for automated imaging. This software offers comprehensive microscope control, image capture, documentation, data management and analysis and is the ideal control software for Ti-E, Ti-PFS (Perfect Focus System), Eclipse 90i, DIH-M/E Digital Imaging Head, and Eclipse LV100A microscopes.

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