Confocal · Zeiss
Our most advanced confocal system. Combines super-resolution Airyscan 2 detection, AI-assisted navigation, multiphoton excitation, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and spectral unmixing — all with live cell environmental control.
Instrument Features
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Airyscan 2 Detector
32-element GaAsP detector array delivers ~1.7× lateral resolution improvement over conventional confocal. Multiplex mode enables fast simultaneous multi-channel Airyscan imaging with full sensitivity.
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AI Sample Finder
AI-powered automated detection of cells or regions of interest across the slide. Dramatically reduces setup time by automatically positioning the system over relevant areas without manual scanning.
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2-Photon Laser
Tunable near-infrared Ti:Sapphire laser for two-photon excitation. Enables deep tissue imaging (up to several hundred microns) with reduced phototoxicity and improved signal-to-background in thick specimens.
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B&H FLIM System
Becker & Hickl Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) module for fluorescence lifetime imaging. Enables FRET measurements, environmental sensing (pH, ion concentration), and separation of spectrally overlapping fluorophores by lifetime.
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Spectral Detector
34-channel spectral detector for full emission spectrum acquisition. Enables linear unmixing of multiple fluorophores with overlapping spectra and separation of autofluorescence from specific signal.
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Live Cell Incubation
Full environmental control including temperature (37°C), CO₂ (5%), and humidity. Suitable for long-term time-lapse imaging, drug treatment experiments, and live cell dynamics studies.
Startup Guide
Power On the System
Turn on the main electronics box and the laser combiner. Allow a minimum of 15–30 minutes warm-up time for laser power to stabilize before imaging.
Launch ZEN Black Software
Open ZEN Black from the desktop. Select “Start System” and wait for full initialization. Confirm all hardware components are detected without errors in the status panel.
Activate Required Lasers
In the laser control panel, activate only the laser lines needed for your experiment (e.g., 405, 488, 561, 647 nm). Allow additional warm-up time. For 2-photon experiments, start the Ti:Sapphire laser early as it requires extended warm-up.
Select & Prepare Objective
Select the appropriate objective in ZEN (e.g., Plan-Apochromat 63×/1.4 Oil). Apply a small drop of immersion oil to the objective if using oil immersion. Avoid air bubbles.
Load Sample
Place your slide or coverslip on the stage. Ensure it is seated flat and secured in the holder. For live cell imaging, allow the incubation chamber to equilibrate to 37°C / 5% CO₂ before loading.
Find Your Sample
Use the eyepiece or Live mode in ZEN to navigate to your cells. Use AI Sample Finder to automatically detect and map regions of interest across the slide if needed.
Configure Imaging Channels
Use Smart Setup to automatically configure channels based on your fluorophores, or manually set each channel. For Airyscan, select “Airyscan” mode in the acquisition tab. Set laser power (typically 1–5%) and master gain to optimize signal without saturation.
Set Acquisition Parameters
Define Z-stack range, slice interval, tile positions, or time series settings as needed. Use the optimal interval calculator for Nyquist sampling in Z.
Acquire & Process
Start acquisition. After capture, run Airyscan Processing (Processing tab → Airyscan Processing). Use “Auto” strength or adjust manually. Save your .czi file before logging off.
Shut Down
Turn off lasers in ZEN. Remove your sample and clean the objective with lens tissue. Close ZEN and shut down the system per the posted shutdown protocol.
⚠️ For FLIM experiments, contact Adeela before your session for additional setup steps specific to the B&H FLIM module.