FEI
Company, a leading provider of high-resolution imaging and analysis solutions,
today released its Xplore3D software package, updated to include data acquisition
and reconstruction for dual-axis electron tomography. The new capability provides
more complete information for the reconstruction of complex biological ultrastructure
from high-resolution scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM).
Xplore3D's sophisticated automation and precise specimen positioning capabilities
allow users to automatically acquire tomography tilt series images from an initial
tilt axis and a second tilt axis, after a sample rotation. Acquiring tilt series
from two axis enables users to gain more information from the sample, thereby
minimizing the "missing wedge" problem common to all single tilt series
tomography. After automated dual-axis acquisition, Xplore3D also now enables
automated dual-axis tomogram reconstruction. Its dual-axis capability enables
users to generate highly accurate tomograms as simply as possible. Xplore3D
is available now and integrated with FEI Tecnai(TM) and Titan Krios(TM) TEMs.
"We are committed to providing the best, easy-to-use solutions for high-resolution
imaging and analysis of biological ultrastructure," said Matthew Harris,
vice president and general manager of FEI's Life Science Division. "Xplore3D
with dual-axis tomography improves the quality of the tomographic analysis by
providing additional information for reconstructions. It is part of FEI's commitment
to provide wide-ranging imaging solutions for life scientists. Our hardware
and software solutions give researchers a complete cryo-TEM tomography package
that allows them to focus on making ground-breaking discoveries."
Single-axis S/TEM tomography data suffers from the existence of a "missing
wedge" due to the geometry of samples and stage, images can usually only
be acquired for tilt angles in a range of 70. In 3D-reconstruction, this gives
rise to artifacts and directional dependencies in resolution and contrast. To
reduce these shortcomings, samples are often rotated by about 90 in the holder
and a second tilt series is acquired (dual-axis tomography). The "missing
wedge" is thus reduced to a "missing pyramid." Extreme precision
in the compucentric stage is required to maintain the point of interest at the
same location within the field of view as the sample tilts during the imaging
sequences. FEI's Xplore3D adds automated dual-axis acquisition and reconstruction
capabilities to minimize the missing wedge problem and optimize the accuracy
of any tomographic reconstruction.