New System Line for Widefield Fluorescence Microscopy From Leica

Biological and medical researchers are probing deeper into the secrets of life, using widefield microscopy as a key technology for imaging the living cell. Users all over the world have benefited from the speed, reliability, brilliant image quality and ease of use offered by Leica Microsystems' fluorescence research systems for many years. Together with leading scientists, Leica Microsystems has further developed its successful fluorescence solutions into a modular Leica Advanced Widefield System line that can be customized to suit all live cell imaging requirements.

The new Leica Advanced Widefield Systems offer the right tool for every application level, from routine imaging and documentation to live cell imaging workstations for complex real-time experiments. All Leica Advanced Widefield Systems utilize the same easy-to-use software platform. No matter which modules and components are selected to configure an individual system, it can readily adapt to changing needs.

Four product solutions for different application levels
The modular design of the Leica Advanced Widefield System allows the system to grow. Each of the four solutions is upgradable and allows many different combinations of Leica Microsystems hardware and software – for fast, top-quality results:

Leica AF6000 E – The entry-level software solution for high-quality fluorescence imaging and documentation; compatible with a wide range of manual and automated microscopes and cameras from Leica Microsystems.

Leica AF6000 – The flexible system for a variety of applications in fluorescence microscopy and image analysis including time-lapse experiments, multi-positioning and deconvolution.

Leica AF6500 – The high-speed fluorescence system with all the functionality of the Leica AF6000 plus real-time controlled image acquisition for ultra fast 2D time-lapse experiments, ratio imaging and triggering of peripheral hardware components.

Leica AF7000 – The premium solution for highly demanding applications which offers full real-time control for fast 3D time-lapse experiments, TIRF, Fura2, FRET SE, deconvolution and peripheral triggering.

Common to all Leica Advanced Widefield Systems, Leica Microsystems has developed an easy-to use, intuitive software interface. Incorporating the latest findings in ergonomic design and efficiency research, the software enables swift and effortless definition of experiment parameters and analysis. All settings are stored so experiments can easily be repeated. Support for complex analysis procedures comes in the form of specific wizards, as in the case of the FRET wizard.

Live cell experiments need optimized hardware components. Key requirements include fast or real-time image recording, temperature stability, minimum exposure of specimens to light and highly sensitive recording techniques for weak fluorescence. Leica Microsystems offers a wide choice of hardware components and accessories for individual configuration of the research system. The full integration of all automated functions with the software ensures perfect interaction of components in everyday use.