Andor’s New iCam Technology Speeds Up EMCCD Microscopy Cameras

Andor Technology has just announced the launch of its new iCam technology, a combined firmware and software innovation that has been incorporated into Andor’s EMCCD imaging cameras. iCam technology encompasses a set of unique innovations that empower the EMCCD camera to operate with complete acquisition efficiency through multi-dimensional microscopy softwares, showcased to great effect through their own iQ imaging suite. iCam technology will now be offered as a standard feature across iXon^EM+ and Luca^EM product lines.

iCam offers enhanced performance for acquisitions whether software triggered or hardware (externally) triggered, with absolute minimal overheads. It offers next-generation EMCCD performance during tightly synchronized and complex multi-dimensional microscopy experiments, and delivers up to 2x faster frame rates than other prominent EMCCD brands.

Market Development Manager Dr. Colin Coates says “We are delighted to be able to offer this enhanced performance as a standard feature in our microcopy cameras, as a further boost to what are already the highest performing EMCCDs on the market. We constantly monitor customer feedback and the ability to zoom through acquisition protocols was a clear requirement from the microscopy market. iCam is the result of 12 months of work, further enhancing the performance of our world class cameras and imaging software. iCam allows for faster frame rates in software by using dedicated timing patterns that eliminate unnecessary overhead times. This, alongside state of the art bi-directional communication between camera and PC, facilitates unparalleled tight synchronization with other peripheral equipment such as filter wheel, laser-AOTF or z-stage.”

Colin continues “A novel ‘Ring Mode’ offers the capacity to use up to 16 different timing patterns uploaded into the camera head, thus trigger events can yield virtually instantaneous switching between exposure channels.”

“We really feel that this innovation will take the microscopy market by storm. We will offer it as standard in all new Luca^EM and iXon^EM+ cameras, and we will offer upgrades to existing customers who want to take advantage of the improvements. Significantly, this advance also directly improves the already market-leading performance of our own Revolution spinning disk confocal microscopy system.”