Olympus Introduces Unique All-in-one Microscope Family at Biotechnica 2009

Olympus are to introduce the all-in-one FSX100 fluorescence and FluoView FV10i confocal laser scanning microscope systems to enable even the most inexperienced users to create high-end research images at Biotechnica 2009. The all-in-one microscopes are designed to remove all of the complex steps involved in setting-up and using advanced fluorescence and confocal microscopes, ensuring that users can concentrate on the images and data without any prior expertise in the control of the numerous microscope components involved.

Set-Select-Capture
By coupling high quality microscopy and imaging hardware with precision automation and advanced software, the Olympus FSX100 and FluoView FV10i present simplified workflows so that users can obtain high quality images and image series by: loading their sample; defining their observation mode and regions of interest (ROI); and then capturing their images: as simple as Set-Select-Capture.

Motorised and Automated
All components are motorised and controlled via software, ensuring that functions such as focusing, exposure, fluorescence wavelength selection and even cover slip thickness correction are automated so the user does not have to touch the microscope at all. As a result, advanced imaging processes such as time-lapses, Z-stacks and multi-position image capture can be carried out with ease and even combined to provide true multi-dimensional imaging.

Self-Contained
The Olympus FSX100 and FV10i all-in-one microscopes enclose all the required components in a compact and self-contained unit. This means that they can be placed on the bench at the point of discovery, or easily transported to wherever they are needed. Furthermore, the stage is completely enclosed and therefore provides full darkroom facilities, ensuring maximum imaging sensitivity.

Intuitive Software
The user-friendly software systems guide users through the whole imaging process. An overview image of the sample is generated automatically once the slide or culture plate is placed on the stage and the user has clicked ‘start’. From here, scientists select their regions of interest and the microscope zooms in, optimising the image and presenting the user with a series of intuitive tools for imaging the sample. These enable the selection of the observation method; viewing the different fluorescence and brightfield channels; navigating around the sample; manually controlling focus and exposure; as well as controlling laser intensity and applying real-time noise reduction. Data and meta-data are stored in a highly logical format. As a result, settings from existing images can be reapplied to the instrument for imaging new samples, ensuring excellent experimental consistency.

FSX100
The Olympus FSX100 all-in-one fluorescence microscope is fitted with three fluorescence filter cubes covering a broad range of applications. Fluorescence illumination is provided by an easy to fit, pre-centred metal-halide burner with a 2,000 hour lifespan; a highly stable LED illumination system with a 16,000 hour lifespan is used to provide consistent brightfield and phase contrast illumination. The advanced UIS2 optics used in the system include an SAPO 40x (NA 0.95) objective and 0.4x-2.0x optical zoom, providing an overall magnification range of 17x-80x.

FluoView FV10i
The Olympus FV10i confocal laser scanning microscope is available as oil-and water-immersion models, both providing an overall magnification range of 10x-600x by combining the 10x and 60x UIS2 SAPO objectives with the confocal optical zoom. The four diode laser combiner unit provides the flexibility to cover the majority of fluorescent dyes and the two channel fluorescence detection unit uses a novel spectrum method to automatically select the correct detection wavelengths for the dyes in use. The water immersion model also features automated water supply and automated correction collar for ensuring that the 60x objective is always used correctly. It also features an integrated incubator to enable long-term live cell imaging.