Andor launches line of live-cell confocal microscopes
August 30, 2005, Belfast, Northern Ireland--Andor Technology, which develops and manufactures instruments for the global spectroscopy and scientific imaging markets, has launched a range of laser spinning-disk, live-cell confocal microscopes through its Bioimaging Division.
The Andor Revolution range of microscopes combines Andor's electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD) camera with spinning-disk confocal laser-scanning units from Yokogawa Electric (Tokyo, Japan). Lasers, microscope components, and accessories are all integrated and driven by Andor imaging software.
The initial offering is the Revolution 488, which the company states is a cost-effective entry point for personal confocal users. Using a single 488-nm laser line, either from an argon or diode-pumped solid-state laser source, the confocal instrument is intended in part for highly rapid, highly sensitive fluorescence 3/4D imaging of GFP (green fluorescent protein) and Fluo dyes. The Fluo family of indicators used to monitor rapid changes to intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) concentrations.
The Revolution offers confocal rates up to 1000 frames per second with high synchronization and sensitivity. It benefits from reduced photobleaching of fluorophores, reduced phototoxicity of living cells, and lower dye concentrations enabling reduced Ca2+ buffering and GFP detection down to single-molecule levels.
Andor's EMCCD-based bioimaging systems are aimed at demanding dynamic live-cell techniques and applications such as multidimensional (4/5D) time-lapse microscopy, intracellular ion signalling, GFP, FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer), and studies of vesicle transport, embryo development, cytoskeleton dynamics, cell cycle, cell development, cell motility, apoptosis, blood flow, and colocalization.