Nov 21 2008
The LCV110 Incubator Fluorescence Microscope from Olympus is the first ultra-long-term live cell incubation and imaging system, offering researchers the unprecedented ability to do multi-channel long-term time-lapse observation of living cells without having to remove cultures from their ideal growth environment. The system can handle observation of multiple locations in up to eight dishes simultaneously, for up to a week at a time, so researchers can better manage, observe, image, and generate data on the growth, kinetics, morphology and protein expression in the most sensitive cell types. The closed-box system incorporates an incubator, fully motorized inverted microscope, high-performance non-drift optics, cooled CCD camera, computer and market-proven Metamorph software. With its streamlined dish management system, it offers supreme flexibility, ease of use and optical performance.
“LCV110 is the first such system to offer the highest quality imaging capabilities, without compromising incubation,” said Nicolas George of Olympus America Inc. “It is easy to learn to use, offers individual researchers a complete system for managing and analyzing complex experiments, and does not require a huge footprint or huge dollars. For those who want a sophisticated, flexible system without having to deal with high-level security access protocols or robotics, this system is ideal.”
Because the system is based on a true incubator, physical stress on the cultures is minimized, so cells remain uncontaminated and enjoy a consistently beneficial environment throughout the experimental process. Imaging is performed within the incubator, handling up to eight vessels at a time on its motorized stage, allowing maximum compliance with a wide variety of experimental protocols. The first-of-its-kind Liquid Handling Option allows the researcher to add agonists or stimulants with the very minimum of disruption to the environment.
Both multichannel fluorescence and differential interference contrast (DIC) observation can be handled by the optical system, which is designed for use with a 40x, 0.95 NA dry objective, unlike the oil immersion objectives that other systems require. (Oil immersion objectives can create thermal instabilities for many specimens.) Magnification changers allow 20x – 80x images to be collected.
Scientists have maximum flexibility with the system. They can change media in mid-experiment, and can add medications, drugs or other substances to the dishes. The system allows multiple observations in each dish, at multiple focal points, and the software allows intermittent review of results and images while the experiment is underway.