Carl Zeiss is dramatically raising the bar in laser scanning microscopy with the launch of the LSM 710 system. The new microscope boasts a more than doubling in sensitivity and unequalled signal-to-noise performance that will enable users to examine fluorescently-labelled biological systems, including thick living tissue samples, in more detail than ever before.
The unrivalled performance is due to the LSM 710's new illumination and detection systems. Zeiss's unique QUASAR filter-free spectral detection unit is more sensitive and flexible than any detector previously released on the market and may be configured with 2, 3 or 34 channels.
The 34-channel QUASAR allows rapid simultaneous spectral collection of images with a resolution of 9nm over the entire wavelength range. In addition, there is a sequential acquisition mode available that increases spectral resolution to 3nm (available on 2, 3 and 34 channel systems). Significantly, a spectral recycling loop increases the efficiency of the spectral splitting of the fluorescence emissions to almost 100%
The definite focus module maintains a constant focal plane throughout experiments to ensure that images are always in focus. The new microscope also incorporates PTC (pig-tailed chain) laser capability, enabling plug-and-play use of up to 8 lasers.
In addition, the innovative main beam splitter, TwinGate, supports up to 50 laser line combinations, features individually exchangeable filters and offers unparalleled suppression of the excitation laser light for brilliant, high-contrast images. Up to 10 different fluorescent dyes may be resolved and imaged simultaneously, opening up new possibilities for researching multi-labelled cell systems.
Available with both upright and inverted microscope stands, the LSM 710 includes integrated image correlation spectroscopy (ICS), which allows the extraction of quantitative information about molecule concentrations and mobility directly from the recorded confocal images.
The LSM 710 system control is completely integrated with the Carl Zeiss ZEN 2008 software platform. New software tools, such as automatic calibration, system control, smart set-up and spectral un-mixing functions mean users will be able to spend less time setting up the microscope and more time analysing samples.