Introducing
GAIA Point REscan family
of confocal microscopes
Breaking the diffraction limit in a purely optical way
Brand new Point REscan confocal technology
We have developed the system that breaks the diffraction limit in a purely optical way, while exhibiting low phototoxicity and enabling live cell imaging over large field of view.
To properly explain how we have done this, we need to compare standard confocal with point REscan confocal in our RCM series.
Standard LSCM
Here’s the layout of a standard laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM):
From the detector signal at each position, an image of the sample is calculated.
Concept of RCM Point REscan confocal
Instead of using a single detector, we use a second scanner, i.e. REscanner, which is synchronized with the first scanner and REscans the emission light onto a camera.
This way the signal automatically ends up at the right place on the camera and the image is reconstructed all by itself.
Optical redesign in GAIA Point REscan confocal
For GAIA, our revolutionary new Point REscan confocal, we added bespoke optical elements before and after the pinhole. This provides the improvement of resolution beyond the diffraction limit while increasing the effective field of view (FoV).
As an added value, we introduced a motorized switchable pinhole that enables perfect confocality for a wide range of objectives (4X-100X). For proper super resolution, one should use high NA objectives.
Super resolution with Point REscan confocal
In Point REscan confocal, the magnification of the image and the spot are decoupled. Thus, one can magnify the image compared to the spot.
In RCM, we do this by giving the REscanner a larger amplitude than the scanner. As a consequence, all the details in the image are pulled further apart and the image is in super resolution.
However, this does not give infinite improvement in resolution. It turns out that the optimal situation is provided by twice as large REscan amplitudes, which improves the resolution by 1.4x*.
Creating a smaller spot
In GAIA, we took a different approach. Here, we are making the spot smaller instead of the image larger by using bespoke optical elements before and after the pinhole.
At the same time, we are retaining 1.4x resolution improvement.
In addition, we gain more than double the FoV in the sample plane as well as an improvement in speed.
Low phototoxicity of Point REscan confocal
GAIA Point REscan confocal is a perfect solution for live cell super resolution imaging thanks to its very low phototoxicity.
Low phototoxicity is attributed to two important factors:
- GAIA, as well as all members of Point REscan family, has the ability to image using a large pinhole, thereby collecting more light.
- The sensor in Point REscan has a very high sensitivity.
REscanning means that we can open the pinhole without losing resolution
Without REscanning, one needs to close the pinhole pretty far, to only let the center of the spot through.
The rest of the light comes from a different position in the sample. If you collect all of it at once, you lose resolution.
If the light is REscanned on the camera, each part of the spot automatically ends up in the correct pixel.
And the pinhole can stay wide open, so we collect more light
High sensitivity of the detector
In Point REscan we can use a camera as a detector.
Scientific cameras provide a much higher quantum efficiency than PMTs in a wider wavelength range.
Motorized pinhole switch in
GAIA Point REscan confocal
A pinhole serves to block the out-of-focus light. In practice, a pinhole size between 1 and 2 Airy units (1-2x times as large as the spot) gives the best images.
If the pinhole is smaller, the signal is sacrificed. If it is larger, confocality is lost.
WIth a motorized pinhole switch, we are ensuring optimal confocality for a wide range of objectives (4x-100X).
Our Point REscans can be mounted on pretty much any microscope body. Adding a camera and a laser gives rise to fully equipped confocal Super resolution microscope. Because it does not need a high laser power, it has a very low phototoxicity, making it perfectly suite for live cell imaging.
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