Olympus updates its cost effective microdissection technology with new features

The highly successful Olympus SmartCut has been upgraded to include automated single CapLift with adjustable contact pressure. The unique PenDisplay option and more advanced SmartCut Plus software have further enhanced functionality. The new features of the SmartCut Plus increase the ability of users to reduce sample handling and contamination when isolating cells for downstream analysis in routine applications.

The Olympus SmartCut Plus is a compact standalone optical-based dissection instrument utilising a high-precision solid state UV laser and is based on picosecond pulses, making it ideal for pathology, forensic medicine, or teaching and educational purposes. It is a highly precise, but cost effective tool fully integrated with the inverted Olympus CKX41 microscope, enabling users to simply switch on and start microdissecting.

The SmartCut Plus is designed specifically for easy use in daily micromanipulation routines of both fixed and living cells, and is capable of isolating groups of cells, single cells and cell compartments for downstream molecular analyses.

Based on the same laser and unique patented isolation technology as the proven CellCut Plus laser microdissection system, the operation of the SmartCut Plus has been simplified so that no sophisticated technical know-how or training is required. The advanced picosecond laser is controlled by intuitive SmartCut Plus software which, with the new digital CellCamera, enables cells and components to be identified, marked and extracted without any extensive homogenisation or isolation procedures. As many targets as required can be drawn around using freehand or predefined geometric figures and the optional touch-screen and pen make this process easier and more comfortable.

The maintenance-free solid-state, diode pumped 355nm UVa laser ensures complete stability and provides exceptional cutting accuracy, as it is focused through the Olympus UIS2 objective to a beam spot size of less than 1µm. In addition, since laser cutting is a highly precise ablative process, it produces a totally clean break between the required sample and surrounding tissue, minimising sample damage.

Specimens are mounted on a special membrane-covered frame and a standard glass slide placed below. This unique sandwich effectively protects the sample and the target area against impurities in the environment, which is particularly crucial for any application involving DNA, or even RNA extraction, where it is essential to minimise contamination.

Microdissected samples are cleanly removed by the unique patented automatic CapLift technology. CapLift uses a specially adapted IsolationCap microcentrifuge tube which is automatically positioned over the cut region, lowered onto the membrane with variable pressure and recovers the target without directly touching it. Thus, in a quick and clean process, the microdissected targets are lifted away and isolated. To confirm the efficiency of the isolation process and for positive identification purposes, the cap can then be easily focussed upon and viewed. In addition, based on a new PTP (Predefined Target Positioning) function customers can now position each microdissected target within the IsolationCap, which will significantly help in the proofing of the quality and quantity of the extracted material. The tube can then be closed to keep the samples in an isolated environment ready for protein, DNA or RNA extraction.

In addition to enabling precise identification of the areas to be excised and full control over the laser, the SmartCut Plus software provides further functions. All data relevant to a session are stored, such as the number and size of cut-out areas, as well as instrument settings and parameters. The software automatically stores pictures of the clean isolation process. Additional images can be taken at any point and added to the same session folder allowing the user to confirm that the required target areas have been removed correctly. The optional CellExplorer image recognition software package can be used to automatically recognise and cut out specific targets set and defined by the user.