Olympus has announced another significant leap forward in multicolor TIRF imaging. The Olympus cell^TIRF illuminator offers four motorized channels for simultaneous image capture; intuitive, user-friendly software control of TIRF parameters; and instant setting and confirmation of the precise TIRF angle. The system also allows easy transition back and forth to widefield fluorescence and a sleek, space-saving ergonomic design.
The new system has four individually controlled motorized laser inputs for TIRF imaging. With the cell^TIRF system, each laser wavelength is optimally focused and each angle is individually set, allowing different wavelengths to have the same penetration depth. Combined, these features make cell^TIRF the only such system that can simultaneously capture multiple channels with independently adjusted TIRF angles. Researchers do not have to make time-consuming adjustments during experiments.
Users can operate the software through a simple graphical user interface (GUI), keyboard arrow keys or the mouse wheel, making it easier than ever to control the incident angle of each wavelength and adjust TIRF penetration depths. Best of all, users can preset calculated penetration depths for all four lasers with just a single mouse click; the system will individually adjust each laser’s angle automatically to simultaneously capture TIRF from all four channels.
A number of additional capabilities make the new system especially useful for cell biologists and other researchers. For instance, one laser line can be adjusted so the system can do fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments. A handy button is available to seamlessly switch to widefield imaging, allowing researchers to visualize the complete cell profile, see nuclei or find the field they want to observe. TIRF imaging mode can be reestablished in less than 500msec. Users can also control laser intensities onscreen.
The design has all four laser inputs coming in from one side, making the compact system easy to set up and integrate with incubator systems. Researchers can quickly insert clean-up filters for lasers if needed. In addition, the main unit is built from single billet aluminum for rigidity and robustness, making it more tolerant of small temperature fluctuations that may occur in rooms where it is placed.
Olympus, www.olympus.com
