Yokogawa Electric Corporation will release the CSU-W1 confocal scanner unit on June 20 in Japan and in late August globally. This new product is an addition to the CSU series of confocal scanners, which are capable of observing live cells with high-speed and high sensitivity.
The scanner unit offers the superior performance and functionality that researchers require. With its significantly larger field of view, decreased crosstalk, and extended near-infrared spectral range, it can obtain sharper images of regions deeper inside live cells.
Development Background
In the life science field, high sensitivity, accuracy, and speed are required to capture three-dimensional images showing detailed structures inside live cells, including those in a short time. The confocal scanner units offer the excellent sensitivity and high-speed scanning to meet these needs, and can observe samples for longer periods of time with little of the damage normally caused by laser beams.
With the expansion of life science research in recent years on subjects such as induced pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and the human genome (for personalized medicine), researchers need far faster observation tools with higher sensitivity, multi-wavelength capability, and greater versatility. The scanner unit is a high performance, versatile tool that satisfies all these requirements.
Product Features
1. Wider field of view and clearer imaging
The scanner unit has a larger, newly designed Nipkow disk that allows imaging of areas up to four times the size possible with previous models. This quadruples throughput and increases the likelihood that images of phenomena will be captured even when it is difficult to predict where they will occur.
The distance between the pinholes on the disk has also been widened, reducing the flare caused by the leakage of light from adjacent pinholes (crosstalk). As a result, images are clearer.
2. Various options for multi-wavelength observation and selectable pinhole size
Three models are provided: a single-camera model, a two-camera model for two-wavelength simultaneous observation, and a single-camera, split-view model for two-wavelength simultaneous observation in a single image. A disk with 50 μm pinholes (appropriated for high magnification) and a disk with 25 μm pinholes (appropriated for low magnification) are available. Users have the option of selecting one or both disk types, and in the latter case can electrically switch between the two disk types.
3. Expanded wavelength up to Near-infrared for deeper observation
Confocal scanner units use laser beams to excite fluorescence-stained samples and observe the fluorescence. As an option, lasers with a near infrared up to 785 nm wavelength are available for the scanner unit. The longer wavelength laser beams penetrate further, enabling the observation of regions deeper inside live cells.
Yokogawa
www.yokogawa.com
Filed Under: Test & Measurement Tips
