Compact Microscopes to Use Inside an Incubator or Hood
This category includes the imaging modules that are simple and small then can be used as part of another imaging module or as stand alone inside an incubator or safety hood.
The main goal of such a complete microscope or imaging module is to keep the microscope size as small as possible, do all imaging modes possible such as brightfield, phase contrast, fluorescence, polarizing, darkfield, etc. then keep the microscope inside an incubator which has all natural conditions, such as gas, humidity, light, etc. Thus, your cells will be extremely happy and accordingly you!
Making a microscope at small size is a big challenge. It requires special optics and mechanics. There is always a limits in physics and optics. The good news is that you do not need to worry about this. We have done the all studies. What you need to do is just describe us your imaging requirements and limitations and we will take care of the rest.
What are available?
So far, we can offer a compact microscope which fits perfectly well inside a biological hood or incubator, with the following specifications:
Magnifications/resolutions: starting from 1.25x till 250x obj lenses such as 1.25x, 2x, 2.5x, 4x, 5x, 7x, 10x, 20x, 25x, 40x, 50x, 60x, 80x, 100x, 200x, 250x.
Position: Upright (objective lens from top), inverted (obj lens from bottom), horizontal (objective lens from side)
Field of view: standard or custom size as we have several c-mount adapters, cameras and tube lenses.
Speed: all high speed and high resolution cameras with USB2.0 and mainly USB 3.0, USB 3.1
Communications and Interface: USB, HDMI or other types
Conditions: Our products are made with aluminum, stainless steel, glass and/or plastics. Thus there is no concern of corrosion at all.
Dimension: the smallest size of a microscope cane be at this step at 15x16x20cm.
Automated or manual XY stage, focus, nosepiece.
Please note that some combinations of these specs will be met, not all.
Applications
IncuScope, incubator microscope series, can be used in practically any application where a classical microscope, inverted, upright or horizontal type, are used. Majority of the applications listed here involve cells, particularly time-lapse imaging, but obviously this microscopes can also be used for imaging of beads and other materials, particularly the compact size or special field of view is matter.
Examples of applications:
Time-lapse video imaging of cells expressing cell cycle proteins
Live cell imaging
Cell division
Cell growth and confluence
2D cell cultures as well as 3D culture
Cell migration and wound healing
Cell cycle protein expression
Use of micro-environmental systems
Calcium assays
GCAMP5 activity in a sensory neuron
Determining transfection efficiency
Transfection optimization
In Vitro Exercise Model
Special environment, for instance Electrically stimulated skeletal cells under hypoxic conditions
Manipulations: Cell signal transduction dynamics, measured using proteomic techniques, visualization of contracting cells and assessment of their health.
References:
Bioimager has been very successful in selling incubator microscopes. Below are some representative clients cross the world:
Canada
CHU de Québec, Québec City, Québec
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON
New World Laboratories, Montreal, QC
QVella Inc., Richmond Hill, Ontario
Université Laval, Québec City, Québec
University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
USA
Cornell University, Itacha, NY
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA
