Olympus launch stage incubators for MVX10 macroscopes and SZX2 stereo microscopes

Olympus has expanded its range of environmental control products with the introduction of new stage incubators for its advanced MVX10 macroscope and SZX2 stereo microscopes.These units are ideal for long-term observation of larger living specimens, such as organisms and tissue cultures, offering optimal live cell imaging conditions directly on the microscope stage. Three models are offered providing environmental control, whatever the experimental requirements.

Olympus has introduced three new Tokai Hit environmental control systems, which enable precise control of environmental variables over long periods of time. This permits living specimens to be observed in a stable environment at high resolution and sensitivity, since cell activity - and therefore experimental results - are susceptible to minor changes in the environment. Each of the three models provide highly accurate temperature control, from ambient to 50°C, and two of the stage incubators have more specific CO₂ control. These two incubator chambers incorporate a gas flow meter, with digital display, to measure CO₂ levels as it is continuously fed into the incubating chamber, therefore keeping atmospheric conditions constant and controlling the pH of the environment. One incubator has a gas flow meter set at constant pre-mixed 5% CO₂ concentration for samples which require a standard CO₂ saturation. The other stage incubator comes with a digital gas flow meter to mix 100% CO₂ with air for finer concentration control. The new control units perfectly complement the outstanding resolution and sensitivity of Olympus’ microscopes, and have been specifically designed for use with the new SZX2 stereo and the MVX10 macroscopes. These offer a larger field of view and a longer working distance, making them ideal observation tools for bigger specimens. In combination with the new stage incubators, Olympus now enables users to define the ideal system for their requirements.

Unique glass heating technology has been employed in these systems, which allows the glass bottom, glass lid and waterbath of the incubators to be heated from ambient temperature to 50°C. Heating these three elements avoids temperature gradients within the specimen and condensation on the surface of the dish lid or the incubator. The addition of the waterbath also reduces the evaporation of the medium and moistens and warms the incoming CO₂ gas. These parameters can be controlled precisely, making these stage top incubators ideal for creating the perfect environment for live cell imaging.