Nikon, a leading manufacturer of optical instruments, has announced the release of its next generation confocal microscope series, AX and AX R, which features a completely re-designed scan head with 8K x 8K resolution, ultra-high speed resonant scanning, and world’s largest 25 mm field of view. This new confocal series is expected to enable researchers to acquire data faster, with an unprecedented level of detail and ease, and to support a wide range of biological applications and fields.
The AX and AX R confocal microscopes are based on a new scan head design that allows for 8192 x 8192 pixel, high-resolution images to be obtained with the world’s largest field of view (25 mm). This means that ultrafine details can be easily captured even for large specimens, such as optically cleared whole organs or tissues. The new scan head also incorporates a new detector unit, NSPARC, which uses artificial intelligence to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio and image quality in real time.
The AX R confocal microscope also features a high-speed resonant scanner that can acquire up to 720 frames per second at 2048 x 16 pixels. High-speed resonant scanning not only enables dynamic events to be easily captured, but also reduces the amount of time required to image large, fixed specimens. The AX R confocal microscope can also perform simultaneous multicolor imaging with up to four laser lines and four detectors, enabling complex fluorescence experiments.
A User-Friendly Interface and Advanced AI-Based Tools
The AX and AX R confocal microscopes are designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, with a streamlined interface and a modular design that can accommodate multi-modal experiments and future expansion. The confocal microscopes are compatible with both inverted and upright microscope configurations, thereby supporting a wide range of research applications and fields.
The confocal microscopes also feature a suite of AI-based tools that assist users in acquisition, processing and analysis of data. For example, the AI-based autofocus function can automatically adjust the focus position and maintain it throughout the imaging session, while the AI-based stitching function can seamlessly combine multiple images into a large mosaic image. The confocal microscopes also offer advanced image analysis functions, such as 3D rendering, segmentation, quantification, and colocalization.
A Seminar to Learn More about the New Nikon Scanning Confocal Microscope
The Institute for Applied Life Sciences at UMass Amherst is hosting a seminar on December 5, 2023, to introduce the new Nikon scanning confocal microscope that was just purchased with MLSC funding. The seminar will be presented by Joseph DiPietro, a representative from Nikon Instruments, who will describe the underlying technology of the new AXR scan head and the NSPARC detector unit. The seminar will also provide an opportunity for interested researchers to sign up for a demo of the microscope with one of their samples.
The seminar will take place from 2:00pm to 3:30pm at LSL S340. The seminar is open to all researchers who are interested in learning more about the new Nikon scanning confocal microscope and its potential applications in light microscopy research.
