Biomedical Optics Products

Agilent Technologies (Santa Clara, CA) has introduced a multiwavelength laser combiner for microscopy applications such as epifluorescence, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. The new combiner provides 19 wavelength options that can be used in three-channel to eight-channel configurations. As research needs change, new laser wavelength channels can be added, or laser lines can be changed within channel.

The multiwavelength laser combiner gives new options to a wide variety of OEM and end-user applications for fluorescence microscopy including FRET, TIRF, FLIM, FRAP and FISH. It is based on Agilent's complex monolithic optic (CMO) design, which incorporates many individual optical components into one monolithic structure. This is the first implementation of a CMO design for microscopy applications.

Agilent Technologies

Hamamatsu (Bridgewater, NJ) has introduced the C9252DK-14 flat panel sensor, a digital X-ray image sensor designed for CT imaging, panoramic and cephalometric imaging, somatology, and biochemical imaging. The lightweight and compact C9252DK-14 offers a flat panel structure with a large area of 12 cm x 24 cm and allows both partial scan and whole scan modes for use in panoramic and CT imaging, respectively. It also offers a wide dynamic range, high speed frame rate (30 frames/sec), and high sensitivity (6000 LSB/mR).

Hamamatsu

Kronos from Ultrafast Systems (Sarasota, FL) is an inexpensive miniature flash photolysis spectrometer designed to introduce chemistry students to the principles of chemical kinetics using time-resolved spectrometry. With Kronos, students can quickly and easily generate reaction time profiles and thence perform kinetic analysis of a variety of transient species such as free radicals, excited states, metal-coordination complexes in unusual valence states, and the like. The Kronos patent pending design utilizes a Xe arc flash lamp as an excitation source, which allows for wavelength tunability.

Ultrafast Systems

The new ProgRes C7 microscope camera from Jenoptik (Jena, Germany) is equipped with instantaneous SXGA live image, mechanical shutter and 7 megapixel CCD sensor, recording even the tiniest specimen structures in a precise and detailed fashion. The ProgRes C7 is particularly suited to macro shots in addition to microscopy applications. The instantaneous live image makes precise specimen positioning and focusing much easier. Detailed color images at the touch of a button Thanks to the integrated shutter, the ProgRes C7 takes only a single shot to capture objects in motion and easily accommodates flash illumination techniques. Integration into automated process sequences or applications involving, for example, a motorized stage are made easy. The ProgRes C7 is suitable for any illumination technique in light microscopy and excels with high light sensitivity and natural reproduction of colors.

Jenoptik

Nexcelom Bioscience (Lawrence, MA), a manufacturer of instruments for cell-based assays used in cancer research and drug discovery, has launched the Cellometer Vision, an innovative automatic cell counter with multi-mode imaging analysis. With its compact footprint, the system simplifies the acquisition of fluorescence labeled cell count data and is affordable enough to be used routinely in every lab. Simply pipette 20 microliters of sample into the Cellometer disposable counting chamber, insert it into the instrument, and the patent-pending dual mode imaging system acquires both bright field and fluorescent cell images. The intuitive software automatically determines cell sizes, fluorescence data, total cell count, cell concentration and viability. A comprehensive set of data, including cell size histograms and scatter plots, is generated without complex manipulation.