Inverted Research Microscopes Technology Developed for Bioimaging

Two new inverted research microscopes have been developed, one for ultraviolet (UV)-visible imaging and the other for visible-infrared (IR) imaging for multiphoton microscopy.

The new technology directly tackles the difficulty of focus drift, which decreases the effectiveness of acquired data, specifically in long-term time-lapse observations using higher magnifications and resolutions. The new Perfect Focus systems (PFS) address this issue by keeping the focus precise and making corrections on a millisecond time-scale due to Nikon’s proprietary optical offset technique.


Nikon Instruments, Inc. (Melville, NY, USA), a developer of optical instruments, recently released the third-generation Perfect Focus systems. The new models of the TI-ND6-PFS-S Perfect Focus unit have been optimized for UV-Visible imaging and Visible-IR Imaging for multiphoton microscopy.

“For biological and medical researchers, the new Perfect Focus systems are critical to support high-end life science experiments,” said Stephen Ross, PhD, general manager of product and marketing at Nikon Instruments. “Whether you are studying the microstructure of cell interiors with systems like our N-STORM Super Resolution microscope, analyzing the activity in deep layers of brain as you can with multi-photon microscopy, or time-lapse imaging of iPS [induced pluripotent stem] cell differentiation patterns, Perfect Focus has become an essential tool to ensure successful experiments.”

Features of the new PFS systems include enable easier access to objective lenses and their correction collars. Moreover, all PFS functions are now controlled through the personal computer (PC) or external controller, eliminating the need to open and close environmental chambers, which can lead to disturbances in the imaging temperature.

The new PFS systems can correct for axial drifts and sustain focus at larger distances from the objective, for example, deeper depths in the imaging specimen. This new capability is not only applicable for developmental biology, but other fields of research as research trends move toward studying the dynamics of cells in their natural environment such as thick tissues or whole animals.

The multiphoton model of the new PFS now provides compatibility with a larger range of imaging wavelengths, increasing the capabilities of fluorophores and lasers that can be used for multiphoton imaging and other near-infrared applications such as optical trapping/tweezers. The new MP PFS can correct for focus drifts even when imaging with wavelengths ranging from 880-1,300 nm.

The plastic dish, which is less costly and suitable for cell culture, in addition to glass bottom dishes, can be used with the PFS systems. Use of plastic dishes allows researchers to reduce running costs and simplify workflow, particularly helpful for high-throughput screening applications that involve multiwell plates.

The Perfect Focus technology will be presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in New Orleans (LA, USA), October 13-17, 2012, and will be available in December 2012.

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