FW: A1

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K.K.Veeraraghavan K.K.Veeraraghavan
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FW: A1

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COMMERCIAL INTEREST


Dear All

In addition to the points already discussed on A1/A1R confocal systems, I
would like to throw some light on the lasers and their control through
software and hardware.

There are three beam introduction ports that allow the connection of two
fiber coupled laser sets and one air space coupled laser. Two laser input
ports are incorporated in the scan head to use different laser lines.  The
AOTF modulated 4 laser unit is used as a standard that provides 7 laser
lines (choices from 405nm, 448nm, 457nm, 488nm, 514nm, 543nm, 562nm and
638nm) and the AOM modulated 3 laser board can be added as an option that
provides additional 3 laser lines, hence 7 lasers with 9 lines are available
in maximum.  

In addition, it can also be coupled to an optional picosecond or faster IR
pulsed laser port. Lasers are modulated through power control for each
wavelength, return mask and ROI exposure control. Through the software along
with AOTF and AOM, the lasers can be controlled in increments of 0.1%. In
addition, software variable control with continuous ND is also possible. The
input ports are continuously monitored for the laser power that is governed
by the control system that ensures quantitative and uniform performance.

The scan head has three output ports to allow optical fiber connection to
three separate detector units like 4 channel standard fluorescence detector,
spectral detector and custom detector for applications like FCS and FLIM.
The ability of using this system along with Controlled Light Exposure
Microscopy (CLEM) makes this system for long time live cell imaging and
confocal analysis. CLEM automatically monitors and varying the laser
illumination during time-lapse studies to reduce the risk of laser induced
bleaching, biochemical inconsistency and cell death.

The complete system along with the inverted microscope can be totally
controlled through NIS-Element C that allows diverse image acquisition and
analysis methods like Colocalization, 2-D object tracking, rapid volume
views, renderings and rotations, automated object counting, multiple binary
layer thresholding and processing.  

Modules such as 3-D Blind Deconvolution, 2-D Real Time Deconvolution and
Extended Depth of Focus are also available for the advanced users.

Regards

K.K.Veeraraghavan
Product Specialist
Bio- Imaging Division
[hidden email]
Towa Optics (India) Pvt. Ltd.
India.


-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On
Behalf Of Gene Maverick
Sent: 09 February 2008 15:09
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: A1

Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

Dear Heiko Düssmann, Michael Mancini, Simon Watkins, Stephen Cody and other
confocal aficionados,

In additions to the comments given by Mancini, Simon and Steve, I would like
to express some of my inputs related to the newly introduced A1 Confocal
system. Though I am working for Nikon, I am expressing my views as a fellow
researcher.

I presume that Nikon has designed this system to cater the upcoming needs of
live cell imaging and molecular interaction analysis. As the molecular
biological processes are happening in vivo at nano/micro second levels, we
require higher speed without compromising the resolution and generating
unwanted artifacts and stray noise interference. Due to high optical
efficiency and 16 million pixels resolution, high quality confocal images
can be achieved that will bring inter/intra cellular nuance into the
limelight.  

Nikon claims that the most rapid biological events can be seen in ultra high
resolution with the new system that is the evolved version of the present
real time spectral confocal system C1si that has so many unique features
like diffraction efficiency enhancement system based multiple gratings
(DEES), weak signal sensitivity through dual integration signal processing
(DISP), pre-calibrated synchronized 32 channel multi-anode PMTs,
high-efficiency fluorescence transmission technology to achieve high optical
transmission and most importantly the faster spectral unmixing algorithm
that enables high speed spectral images without any molecular crosstalk in
real time.

The A1 system has standard paired galvonometers that gives high resolution
images up to 4K x 4K pixels, whereas A1R incorporates two independent galvo
systems – high speed resonant and high resolution non-resonant hybrid
scanner system, offering the speed of 30 frames per second at 512 x 512
pixels. The resonant scanner is mounted along with the non-resonant scanner
gives industry’s fastest 230 fps at 512 x 64 pixels and facilitates
ultra-high-speed imaging with out compromising image quality.

Scanning can be done by three modes through using the resonant scanner alone
for high speed imaging up to 230 fps, using the non-resonant scanner along
for high resolution imaging up to 4K x 4K pixels and by combining both
resonant scanner and non-resonant scanner for simultaneous photo-stimulation
imaging. This mechanism enables simultaneous photo-activation and imaging
with improved sensitivity and reduced photo-toxicity that is vital for most
of the sensitive functional cell dynamics applications.

The hybrid scanning system also enables high speed imaging up to 420fps
(2.4ms/frame) at 512 x 32 pixels. This supports advanced live cell imaging
works more efficiently. The system comes with the analysis software for FRAP
and FRET as standard.    

The newly fully automated standard fluorescence detector with 4 PMTs enables
to acquire 4 color images simultaneously. This detector unit has changeable
filters, enabling simple onsite installation of emission filter and mirror
sets. In combination with four lasers, simultaneous observation of four
different fluorescence labels is possible.

When compare to C1si confocal system, the spectral detection performance
with A1 is enhanced further along with V-filtering function that expands the
range of use of spectral images. Through V-filtering function, up to four
preferred spectral ranges can be chosen from 32 channels and the intensity
of each range can be adjusted independently and this allows selection of
desired spectral range and flexibility to handle new fluorescence probes.

Together with the high speed AD conversion circuit, the new signal
processing technology allows simultaneous 32 channel spectral image
acquisition at 512 x 512 pixels in 0.5 seconds. At 512 x 64 pixels, images
can be acquired with the speed of 16 frames per second.

The industry’s first low incidence 12 degree angle dichroic mirror enhances
30% more fluorescence efficiency and 99% transmission in combination with
high performance sputtering as the reflection-transmission characteristics
have lower polarization dependence, when compare to conventional incidence
angle (45 degree) method, where reflection-transmission characteristics have
high polarization dependence.
 
Ideally speaking, the pinhole shape should be circular. With the A1 system,
the continuously variable hexagonal pinhole, which replaces the standard
four-sided aperture, considerably sharpen the image quality and it allows
30% more light resulting brighter images with the same sectioning
performance as the area of hexagon inscribing a circle is bigger than the
area of square inscribing to the same circle. With tthis hexagonal pinhole
design, maximum confocality is maintained while achieving higher brightness
equivalent to that of an ideal circular pinhole.

Virtual Adaptable Aperture System (VAAS) pinhole unit provides better images
with less flare as the light that a confocal pinhole rejects is collected by
another detector. It allows simulation of different sectionings and slice
thicknesses after image acquisition and has a better control over the
attainment of experimental data. This unique detector system allows virtual
adjustment of the confocality and sensitivity by collecting more photons
during the initial image acquisition to generate a high resolution image.
VAAS detection is an upgrade option that is expected in October 2008.

Two laser input ports are incorporated in the scan head to use various laser
lines.  4 laser unit is used as a standard and 3 laser board can be added as
an option. Hence, 7 lasers with 9 lines are available in maximum.  In
addition, it also has IR laser port as an option.

Along with the newly introduced Ti-E inverted microscope, A1/A1R confocal
system set a new standard for advanced time-lapse studies of rapid cellular
interactions to bring biological imaging to life. However, to understand
this system and the over all performance we need to wait further as the
optional spectral detector is yet to be launched in April 2008. In addition,
the VAAS system, which is again an optional up grade, will be available only
in October 2008.

Gene Maverick.
dc-4 dc-4
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Re: FW: A1

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When you say "optional" picosecond or faster IR laser - who's option would
that be? Bought by the customer, or supplied from yourselves or Nikon? The
support for communication with the IR laser is quite interesting too.

best wishes

Darran Clements
Knecht, David Knecht, David
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Re: A1

In reply to this post by K.K.Veeraraghavan
Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
The ability of using this system along with Controlled Light Exposure
Microscopy (CLEM) makes this system for long time live cell imaging and
confocal analysis. CLEM automatically monitors and varying the laser
illumination during time-lapse studies to reduce the risk of laser induced
bleaching, biochemical inconsistency and cell death.

Can you clarify what this means?  I don't see how you can monitor the imaging and vary the laser in a way that can avoid cell toxicity.  Typically, you don't want the laser intensity to vary.  Do you have any quantitative data on cellular toxicity during imaging in comparison to a spinning disk system?

Dr. David Knecht    
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Co-head Flow Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy Facility
U-3125
91 N. Eagleville Rd.
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269
860-486-2200
860-486-4331 (fax)


lechristophe lechristophe
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Re: A1

Search the CONFOCAL archive at
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You may want to read this article, which idea is implemented by Nikon
for their system:

Hoebe RA, Van Oven CH, Gadella TW Jr, Dhonukshe PB, Van Noorden CJ, Manders EM.
Controlled light-exposure microscopy reduces photobleaching and
phototoxicity in fluorescence live-cell imaging.
Nat Biotechnol. 2007 Feb;25(2):249-53. Epub 2007 Jan 21.

Christophe Leterrier

On Feb 18, 2008 4:50 PM, David Knecht <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>
> The ability of using this system along with Controlled Light Exposure
> Microscopy (CLEM) makes this system for long time live cell imaging and
> confocal analysis. CLEM automatically monitors and varying the laser
> illumination during time-lapse studies to reduce the risk of laser induced
> bleaching, biochemical inconsistency and cell death.
>
> Can you clarify what this means?  I don't see how you can monitor the
> imaging and vary the laser in a way that can avoid cell toxicity.
> Typically, you don't want the laser intensity to vary.  Do you have any
> quantitative data on cellular toxicity during imaging in comparison to a
> spinning disk system?
>
> Dr. David Knecht
> Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
> Co-head Flow Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy Facility
> U-3125
> 91 N. Eagleville Rd.
> University of Connecticut
> Storrs, CT 06269
> 860-486-2200
> 860-486-4331 (fax)
>
>
Michael Weber-4 Michael Weber-4
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Re: A1

In reply to this post by Knecht, David
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

Hi David,

the system measures the amount of fluorescence signal per pixel and
controls the AOTF for this pixel based on the measured value. So if
there is no light coming to the detector, laser will be restricted from
illuminating the sample. Or, if the detector gets close to saturation,
laser will be restricted as well. This should reduce photobleaching and
phototoxicity also in out-of-focus areas. That's at least how I
understand this.

"The CLEM control unit is an optional add-on system for the C1. The CLEM
unit calculates the integrated detected signal and exposure time for
each pixel in real time, performs AOM high speed shutter control and
high speed operation processing based on the amount of acquired
fluorescence signal, PMT gain and then outputs the resulting
fluorescence signal to the C1 controller’s line grabber electronics
circuit."

source: http://www.nikoninstruments.eu/news.php?n=550

I expect the quantification (measuring intensities) to be difficult
afterwards, since one needs to apply a correction. However, it's one of
the main things that makes the Nikon system interesting.

Michael


David Knecht wrote:

> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>> The ability of using this system along with Controlled Light Exposure
>> Microscopy (CLEM) makes this system for long time live cell imaging and
>> confocal analysis. CLEM automatically monitors and varying the laser
>> illumination during time-lapse studies to reduce the risk of laser induced
>> bleaching, biochemical inconsistency and cell death.
>
> Can you clarify what this means?  I don't see how you can monitor the
> imaging and vary the laser in a way that can avoid cell toxicity.
>  Typically, you don't want the laser intensity to vary.  Do you have any
> quantitative data on cellular toxicity during imaging in comparison to a
> spinning disk system?
>
> Dr. David Knecht    
> Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
> Co-head Flow Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy Facility
> U-3125
> 91 N. Eagleville Rd.
> University of Connecticut
> Storrs, CT 06269
> 860-486-2200
> 860-486-4331 (fax)
Patrick Van Oostveldt Patrick Van Oostveldt
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Re: A1

Search the CONFOCAL archive at
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Dear,

We were using the CLEM set-up developed by Eric Manders, the inventor  
of CLEM, and were able to visualize GFP transformed cells for up to 48  
hours. We could see confocal mitosis and all the nice biology of GFP  
labelled cells.
 From time to time cells escaped our field of view and we had to  
adjust the focal plane so within 48 hours there is gap, due to some  
human shortcomings.

As compared to conventional confocal it really reduce bleaching and  
phototoxicity. More over Eric is a very nice person to collaborate with.

Bye

Patrick Van Oostveldt


Quoting Michael Weber <[hidden email]>:

> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>
> Hi David,
>
> the system measures the amount of fluorescence signal per pixel and
> controls the AOTF for this pixel based on the measured value. So if
> there is no light coming to the detector, laser will be restricted from
> illuminating the sample. Or, if the detector gets close to saturation,
> laser will be restricted as well. This should reduce photobleaching and
> phototoxicity also in out-of-focus areas. That's at least how I
> understand this.
>
> "The CLEM control unit is an optional add-on system for the C1. The  
> CLEM unit calculates the integrated detected signal and exposure  
> time for each pixel in real time, performs AOM high speed shutter  
> control and high speed operation processing based on the amount of  
> acquired fluorescence signal, PMT gain and then outputs the  
> resulting fluorescence signal to the C1 controller’s line grabber  
> electronics circuit."
>
> source: http://www.nikoninstruments.eu/news.php?n=550
>
> I expect the quantification (measuring intensities) to be difficult
> afterwards, since one needs to apply a correction. However, it's one of
> the main things that makes the Nikon system interesting.
>
> Michael
>
>
> David Knecht wrote:
>> Search the CONFOCAL archive at  
>> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>>> The ability of using this system along with Controlled Light Exposure
>>> Microscopy (CLEM) makes this system for long time live cell imaging and
>>> confocal analysis. CLEM automatically monitors and varying the laser
>>> illumination during time-lapse studies to reduce the risk of laser induced
>>> bleaching, biochemical inconsistency and cell death.
>>
>> Can you clarify what this means?  I don't see how you can monitor  
>> the imaging and vary the laser in a way that can avoid cell  
>> toxicity.  Typically, you don't want the laser intensity to vary.    
>> Do you have any quantitative data on cellular toxicity during  
>> imaging in comparison to a spinning disk system?
>>
>> Dr. David Knecht    Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
>> Co-head Flow Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy Facility
>> U-3125
>> 91 N. Eagleville Rd.
>> University of Connecticut
>> Storrs, CT 06269
>> 860-486-2200
>> 860-486-4331 (fax)



--
Dep. Moleculaire Biotechnologie
Coupure links 653
B 9000 GENT

tel 09 264 5969
fax 09 264 6219
Stephen Cody Stephen Cody
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Re: A1

In reply to this post by Knecht, David
Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

David Knecht wrote

Ø       ………Typically, you don't want the laser intensity to vary. …………

 

My reply is more of a question than a statement, can someone who has used the CLEM device please confirm.

 

Presumably if you have CLEM fitted to your confocal you can choose to turn it off for quantitative measurements of fluorescence. Turning it on only when required for long time-lapse experiments where reducing bleaching is paramount, and where you are interested primarily in morphology rather than pixel to pixel intensity. Can someone please confirm it is implemented this way on the A1?

 

Also there has not been in depth discussion of the “VAAS” detector. The conventional confocal detector collects a confocal image after the pinhole, but the light rejected by the pinhole is also collected by a detector. This signal can then be deconvolved with the confocal signal to produce an optical section with more signal compared to conventional confocal.

My question: Is this then equivalent to a deconvolved widefield image? Or is the confocal image used in some way to determine what the resulting deconvolved image should look like?

 

Cheers

Steve

Stephen H. Cody
Microscopy Manager
Central Resource for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

PO Box 2008 Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria,      3050
Australia
Tel: 61 3 9341 3155    Fax: 61 3 9341 3104
email: [hidden email]
www.ludwig.edu.au/labs/confocal.html
www.ludwig.edu.au/confocal

Tip: Learn how to receive reminders about you microscope booking:
www.ludwig.edu.au/confocal/Local/Booking_Hint.htm
 

-----Original Message-----
From:
Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David Knecht
Sent: Tuesday, 19 February 2008 2:51 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: A1

 

The ability of using this system along with Controlled Light Exposure
Microscopy (CLEM) makes this system for long time live cell imaging and
confocal analysis. CLEM automatically monitors and varying the laser
illumination during time-lapse studies to reduce the risk of laser induced
bleaching, biochemical inconsistency and cell death.

 

Can you clarify what this means?  I don't see how you can monitor the imaging and vary the laser in a way that can avoid cell toxicity.  Typically, you don't want the laser intensity to vary.  Do you have any quantitative data on cellular toxicity during imaging in comparison to a spinning disk system?

 

Dr. David Knecht    

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Co-head Flow Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy Facility

U-3125

91 N. Eagleville Rd.

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT 06269

860-486-2200

860-486-4331 (fax)



 


This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research does not waiver any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.

Aryeh Weiss Aryeh Weiss
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Re: A1

Search the CONFOCAL archive at
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Stephen Cody wrote:
>
> Presumably if you have CLEM fitted to your confocal you can choose to
> turn it off for quantitative measurements of fluorescence. Turning it on
> only when required for long time-lapse experiments where reducing
> bleaching is paramount, and where you are interested primarily in
> morphology rather than pixel to pixel intensity. Can someone please
> confirm it is implemented this way on the A1?
>

A couple of posts have noted that CLEM might interfere with intensity
measurement. I see no reason why this should be so. The CLEM system has all of
the information it needs to know how much exposure a given pixel received. That
being the case, the resulting intensity levels can be corrected accordingly.
Moreover, it would appear that CLEM operation allows one to avoid approaching
the edges of the detector's dynamic range, so that the detector can be operated
with a more linear response to intensity changes. Therefore, intensity
measurements should at least a accurate as a non-CLEM system.

Perhaps the developers can comment on whether my understanding is correct.

--aryeh
--
Aryeh Weiss
School of Engineering
Bar Ilan University
Ramat Gan 52900 Israel

Ph:  972-3-5317638
FAX: 972-3-7384050
Guy Cox Guy Cox
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Re: A1

In reply to this post by Stephen Cody
Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
Somehow I think we've had this discussion about CLEM before - maybe about a year ago?  Not sure of the date but I do recall Jim Pawley was involved, and Erik Manders was dragged back into the list to explain it all.  this should all be in the archives.  I've not used the device in anger but I have seen it demonstrated and it does work.  As it was explained to me the various parameters can be controlled (eg at what point you 'give up' and don't collect any more from a region which is giving no useful signal) and yes, of course you can turn it off and you must do so for quantitation. 
 
The collection of light both in and closely around the pinhole at the same time was, I thought, patented by Optiscan.  What you can do with it must depend on your sample but at the least it must help in finding thin layers.
 
                                                                                 Guy

Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
by Guy Cox    CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
    http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
______________________________________________
Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon)
Electron Microscope Unit, Madsen Building F09,
University of Sydney, NSW 2006
______________________________________________
Phone +61 2 9351 3176     Fax +61 2 9351 7682
Mobile 0413 281 861
______________________________________________
     http://www.guycox.net

 


From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stephen Cody
Sent: Tuesday, 19 February 2008 10:25 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: A1

Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

David Knecht wrote

Ø       ………Typically, you don't want the laser intensity to vary. …………

 

My reply is more of a question than a statement, can someone who has used the CLEM device please confirm.

 

Presumably if you have CLEM fitted to your confocal you can choose to turn it off for quantitative measurements of fluorescence. Turning it on only when required for long time-lapse experiments where reducing bleaching is paramount, and where you are interested primarily in morphology rather than pixel to pixel intensity. Can someone please confirm it is implemented this way on the A1?

 

Also there has not been in depth discussion of the “VAAS” detector. The conventional confocal detector collects a confocal image after the pinhole, but the light rejected by the pinhole is also collected by a detector. This signal can then be deconvolved with the confocal signal to produce an optical section with more signal compared to conventional confocal.

My question: Is this then equivalent to a deconvolved widefield image? Or is the confocal image used in some way to determine what the resulting deconvolved image should look like?

 

Cheers

Steve

Stephen H. Cody
Microscopy Manager
Central Resource for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

PO Box 2008 Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria,      3050
Australia
Tel: 61 3 9341 3155    Fax: 61 3 9341 3104
email: [hidden email]
www.ludwig.edu.au/labs/confocal.html
www.ludwig.edu.au/confocal

Tip: Learn how to receive reminders about you microscope booking:
www.ludwig.edu.au/confocal/Local/Booking_Hint.htm
 

-----Original Message-----
From:
Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David Knecht
Sent: Tuesday, 19 February 2008 2:51 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: A1

 

The ability of using this system along with Controlled Light Exposure
Microscopy (CLEM) makes this system for long time live cell imaging and
confocal analysis. CLEM automatically monitors and varying the laser
illumination during time-lapse studies to reduce the risk of laser induced
bleaching, biochemical inconsistency and cell death.

 

Can you clarify what this means?  I don't see how you can monitor the imaging and vary the laser in a way that can avoid cell toxicity.  Typically, you don't want the laser intensity to vary.  Do you have any quantitative data on cellular toxicity during imaging in comparison to a spinning disk system?

 

Dr. David Knecht    

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Co-head Flow Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy Facility

U-3125

91 N. Eagleville Rd.

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT 06269

860-486-2200

860-486-4331 (fax)



 


This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research does not waiver any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.


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Michael Weber-4 Michael Weber-4
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Re: FW: A1 - IR port and multiphoton compatibility

In reply to this post by dc-4
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
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Darran,

did you already got a reply off-list? I would be interested in how well
the A1 performs in a multiphoton setup (without NDDs?) - and if there are
any cooperations a customer could benefit from.

cheers,
Michael


> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>
> When you say "optional" picosecond or faster IR laser - who's option would
> that be? Bought by the customer, or supplied from yourselves or Nikon? The
> support for communication with the IR laser is quite interesting too.
>
> best wishes
>
> Darran Clements
GeneMaverick GeneMaverick
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Re: FW: A1 - IR port and multiphoton compatibility

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Dear Michael and Darran,

I guess the optional IR Port is given to enable the users to upgrade the
system in to multiphoton with IR lasers in future. However, as the patent on
multiphoton is not yet expired, Nikon may not make a system as multiphoton
ready as a factory assembled unit. The optics of the inverted microscope
platforms like TE2000E-PFS and Ti-E are IR optimized. The focal drift
control system of the inverted microscope, what Nikon calls perfect focus
system (PFS) is also enhanced as they are capable of handling the dyes of
far red region. The fast pulsed lasers that are available commercially can
be used through the IR port.

Gene Maverick.
dc-4 dc-4
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Re: FW: A1 - IR port and multiphoton compatibility

In reply to this post by Michael Weber-4
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
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Dear Gene,

the original question also concerned the ease of implementation of the
laser modulation. Is it a basic TTL pulse, the ability to control an
external shutter, embedded drivers for the control of AOM/EOM or direct
control of the laser? This is probably the more important aspect of the
question and will obviously be different in the case of C1 class systems
to A1 systems.

The physical hooking up of a laser is probably less thorny than the means
of controlling the beam when it is hooked up and I just wanted to know the
level of preparation and work that would be required to get a fully
functioning system and to what specification beam blanking/ROI
functionality could be acheived.

all the best

Darran
Erik Manders Erik Manders
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Re: A1

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Dear All,
I would like to add some comments to this discussion.

Guy, you are right, we've had a discussion about CLEM about a year ago (and
I'm sure, this will not be the last one).

Michael, I think there is misunderstanding about data can be obtained with
CLEM. For each individual pixel the optimal exposure time is determined.
The integrated fluorescence signal is extrapolated at the end of each
pixel. So, you are right, this extrapolation is a kind of correction
procedure, but this happens internally in the CLEM electronics and you do
not notice the difference between CLEM and non-CLEM when you look at the
images. So, this means that the extrapolated pixel intensity is unbiased.
The only difference is that the noise on the signal is increased for pixels
that allow a shorter exposure time. So, CLEM reduces the exposure time in
very bright pixels (S/N is too good in non-CLEM) and in dark background
pixels (why would you want to have a good S/N if there is no signal!). This
reduced S/N in parts of the image where a good s/n is not needed, is the
price for a reduction in photobleaching and phototoxicity. The signal does
NOT change by CLEM.

This brings me to the point of quantitative imaging with CLEM:
I do really not agree that CLEM should be switched off when you want to do
quantitative imaging as suggested by Stephen. As I explained: CLEM does not
change the measured gray values. There is only one reason why people might
think that CLEM does not give quantitative data and that is photobleaching.
I will here argue that CLEM does give images that are not less quantitative
than non-CLEM images.

So, now we come to the point of photobleaching.
Since CLEM uses different exposure times for different pixels, the sample
is non-uniformly exposed to light. This causes non-uniform photobleaching.
So, if you scan your sample several times, you cannot use a standard method
for photobleaching correction. So, Ron Hoebe and I developed a dedicated
correction procedure for CLEM images (which we will make available later).
This algorithm calculates how much light each pixels in a 3D volume has
received before scanning that pixel and corrects for bleaching. Since we
know of every pixel how much the exposure time was, we can correct. This is
not difficult, it is only a little bit more complicated. We also measured
the difference between this dedicated procedure and a standard correction
methods and found out that the difference is not much (only a few
percents). Ron did a lot of computer simulations to prove that his program
works, by simulating every single photon for every single pixel (lot of
computation time...).

So, Stephen, you might say: Well when I want to have quantitative images, I
just turn of the CLEM. Let's see what would happen. When you do turn it
off, your photobleaching will increase again to its non-CLEM value (about 5
to 10 fold) So you will end-up with a strongly bleached image and a dead
cell! Great! You do a nice quantitative analysis of an image of a dead cell
that you can hardly see anymore! And you do this only because you are
afraid that the non-uniform bleaching is not corrected optimally?

And what about non-uniform photobleaching in non-CLEM confocal images. Does
anyone realize that photobleaching is stronger in the middle of an image
than more to the edges? Since we illuminate the sample with a cone of
light, the pixels more to the edges of the volume get a lower light dose at
the end of a scan. And I have never seen photobleaching correction
procedures that take this into account. So, how quantitative is your
imaging right now (without CLEM)

Finally, we should realize that bleaching is far from linear (especially in
confocal and TPE microscopy. All bleaching correction procedures assume
linear bleaching (what else can you do??). So, with this in mind: How
quantitative are your images now. I prefer a 7-fold reduction of
photobleaching so that I do not need any correction procedures!!

Aryeh, you are right: CLEM also increases the dynamic range of the system.
However, your argument "the detector can be operated with a more linear
response to intensity changes" is not fully correct. We do not reduce the
intensity of laser light, we only reduce the light exposure time. But since
the exposure time is reduced for very bright pixels, clipping of the
(integrated) signal is history. This makes that you can see details in the
weakly stained parts while not saturating the brightly stained parts. -->
larger dynamic range.

Stephan asked: "can someone who has used the CLEM device please confirm..."
So far, only a hand full of people have used CLEM. Some developers of Nikon
rested CLEM and Ron and I as the inventors of CLEM have tested it, but so
far only one person seriously applied CLEM for his biological research.
Winnok de Vos from the group of Patrick Van Oostveld from Ghent, Belgium
visited our lab for months and months to do his live cell imagine. He spent
many nights and days behind the CLEM microscope. To his experience, cells
can cope with a certain amount of trouble (ROS, light damage). As long as
your exposure is under this critical threshold, you are fine. When the
light is too much, you are in trouble. By using CLEM he succeeded to stay
under this threshold and he just could go on imaging. Without CLEM it was
about half an hour; with CLEM for more than 24 hours.

So, we should not only focus on the bleaching reduction by CLEM (although,
where do you find a anti-bleaching reagent that reduces bleaching by a
factor of 5 to 10 ????) but also to the reduction of phototoxicity.
 
At this moment there is only one working CLEM microscope here at the
University of Amsterdam and some prototypes of the Nikon-CLEM. But soon
there will be much more now Nikon implemented CLEM as a standard option in
the new A1. As soon as I have my Nikon-A1, I will give my comments on my
findings, especially on my first A1-CLEM experiences. I expect a better
CLEM than our own experimental set-up. We'll see...

I think this comment satisfies you for the coming few months....

Kind regards, Erik




---------------
E.M.M. Manders, PhD
Ass. prof. Molecular Cytology
Manager Centre for Advanced Microscopy

Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences
Faculty of Science
University of Amsterdam
E-mail:    [hidden email]
Tel:       +31-(0)20-5256225
Fax:       +31-(0)20-5257934
.--. .- ....- . --
Stephen Cody Stephen Cody
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Re: A1

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Dear Erik,

Thanks for your reply. It was exactly this kind of informed discussion I
was hoping to stimulate. CLEM to me has always seemed very powerful,
especially as we have conducted a lot of long term time-lapse
experiments with a conventional point scanning confocal. However, CLEM
so far does not seemed to have taken off in the market. I did not want
to sound critical of the technology, quite the opposite. I think it will
be ideal for the types of experiments we have conducted here. I do have
another question though if you don't mind.

Erik writes
> ....and you do not notice the difference between CLEM and non-CLEM
when you look at the images.

This is great news for qualitative imaging. But from the body of your
email you were suggesting it is suitable for more than just qualitative
imaging. Have you compared images analysed with Image Correlation
Spectroscopy techniques such as RICS? Are the CLEM and non-CLEM images
considered equivalent when analysed with such techniques? It is given
that photo-bleaching will presumably be worse in the non-CLEM images.

Cheers
Steve

Stephen H. Cody
Microscopy Manager
Central Resource for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008 Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria,      3050
Australia
Tel: 61 3 9341 3155    Fax: 61 3 9341 3104
email: [hidden email]
www.ludwig.edu.au/labs/confocal.html
www.ludwig.edu.au/confocal

Tip: Learn how to receive reminders about you microscope booking:
www.ludwig.edu.au/confocal/Local/Booking_Hint.htm  

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On
Behalf Of Erik Manders
Sent: Thursday, 21 February 2008 5:54 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: A1

Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

Dear All,
I would like to add some comments to this discussion.

Guy, you are right, we've had a discussion about CLEM about a year ago
(and
I'm sure, this will not be the last one).

Michael, I think there is misunderstanding about data can be obtained
with
CLEM. For each individual pixel the optimal exposure time is determined.

The integrated fluorescence signal is extrapolated at the end of each
pixel. So, you are right, this extrapolation is a kind of correction
procedure, but this happens internally in the CLEM electronics and you
do
not notice the difference between CLEM and non-CLEM when you look at the

images. So, this means that the extrapolated pixel intensity is
unbiased.
The only difference is that the noise on the signal is increased for
pixels
that allow a shorter exposure time. So, CLEM reduces the exposure time
in
very bright pixels (S/N is too good in non-CLEM) and in dark background
pixels (why would you want to have a good S/N if there is no signal!).
This
reduced S/N in parts of the image where a good s/n is not needed, is the

price for a reduction in photobleaching and phototoxicity. The signal
does
NOT change by CLEM.

This brings me to the point of quantitative imaging with CLEM:
I do really not agree that CLEM should be switched off when you want to
do
quantitative imaging as suggested by Stephen. As I explained: CLEM does
not
change the measured gray values. There is only one reason why people
might
think that CLEM does not give quantitative data and that is
photobleaching.
I will here argue that CLEM does give images that are not less
quantitative
than non-CLEM images.

So, now we come to the point of photobleaching.
Since CLEM uses different exposure times for different pixels, the
sample
is non-uniformly exposed to light. This causes non-uniform
photobleaching.
So, if you scan your sample several times, you cannot use a standard
method
for photobleaching correction. So, Ron Hoebe and I developed a dedicated

correction procedure for CLEM images (which we will make available
later).
This algorithm calculates how much light each pixels in a 3D volume has
received before scanning that pixel and corrects for bleaching. Since we

know of every pixel how much the exposure time was, we can correct. This
is
not difficult, it is only a little bit more complicated. We also
measured
the difference between this dedicated procedure and a standard
correction
methods and found out that the difference is not much (only a few
percents). Ron did a lot of computer simulations to prove that his
program
works, by simulating every single photon for every single pixel (lot of
computation time...).

So, Stephen, you might say: Well when I want to have quantitative
images, I
just turn of the CLEM. Let's see what would happen. When you do turn it
off, your photobleaching will increase again to its non-CLEM value
(about 5
to 10 fold) So you will end-up with a strongly bleached image and a dead

cell! Great! You do a nice quantitative analysis of an image of a dead
cell
that you can hardly see anymore! And you do this only because you are
afraid that the non-uniform bleaching is not corrected optimally?

And what about non-uniform photobleaching in non-CLEM confocal images.
Does
anyone realize that photobleaching is stronger in the middle of an image

than more to the edges? Since we illuminate the sample with a cone of
light, the pixels more to the edges of the volume get a lower light dose
at
the end of a scan. And I have never seen photobleaching correction
procedures that take this into account. So, how quantitative is your
imaging right now (without CLEM)

Finally, we should realize that bleaching is far from linear (especially
in
confocal and TPE microscopy. All bleaching correction procedures assume
linear bleaching (what else can you do??). So, with this in mind: How
quantitative are your images now. I prefer a 7-fold reduction of
photobleaching so that I do not need any correction procedures!!

Aryeh, you are right: CLEM also increases the dynamic range of the
system.
However, your argument "the detector can be operated with a more linear
response to intensity changes" is not fully correct. We do not reduce
the
intensity of laser light, we only reduce the light exposure time. But
since
the exposure time is reduced for very bright pixels, clipping of the
(integrated) signal is history. This makes that you can see details in
the
weakly stained parts while not saturating the brightly stained parts.
-->
larger dynamic range.

Stephan asked: "can someone who has used the CLEM device please
confirm..."
So far, only a hand full of people have used CLEM. Some developers of
Nikon
rested CLEM and Ron and I as the inventors of CLEM have tested it, but
so
far only one person seriously applied CLEM for his biological research.
Winnok de Vos from the group of Patrick Van Oostveld from Ghent, Belgium

visited our lab for months and months to do his live cell imagine. He
spent
many nights and days behind the CLEM microscope. To his experience,
cells
can cope with a certain amount of trouble (ROS, light damage). As long
as
your exposure is under this critical threshold, you are fine. When the
light is too much, you are in trouble. By using CLEM he succeeded to
stay
under this threshold and he just could go on imaging. Without CLEM it
was
about half an hour; with CLEM for more than 24 hours.

So, we should not only focus on the bleaching reduction by CLEM
(although,
where do you find a anti-bleaching reagent that reduces bleaching by a
factor of 5 to 10 ????) but also to the reduction of phototoxicity.
 
At this moment there is only one working CLEM microscope here at the
University of Amsterdam and some prototypes of the Nikon-CLEM. But soon
there will be much more now Nikon implemented CLEM as a standard option
in
the new A1. As soon as I have my Nikon-A1, I will give my comments on my

findings, especially on my first A1-CLEM experiences. I expect a better
CLEM than our own experimental set-up. We'll see...

I think this comment satisfies you for the coming few months....

Kind regards, Erik




---------------
E.M.M. Manders, PhD
Ass. prof. Molecular Cytology
Manager Centre for Advanced Microscopy

Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences
Faculty of Science
University of Amsterdam
E-mail:    [hidden email]
Tel:       +31-(0)20-5256225
Fax:       +31-(0)20-5257934
.--. .- ....- . --


This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research does not waiver any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.

Adrian Smith-6 Adrian Smith-6
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Re: A1

In reply to this post by Michael Weber-4
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On 19/02/2008, at 3:41 AM, Michael Weber wrote:

> Hi David,
>
> the system measures the amount of fluorescence signal per pixel and  
> controls the AOTF for this pixel based on the measured value. So if  
> there is no light coming to the detector, laser will be restricted  
> from illuminating the sample. Or, if the detector gets close to  
> saturation, laser will be restricted as well. This should reduce  
> photobleaching and phototoxicity also in out-of-focus areas. That's  
> at least how I understand this.


Does it work with the AOTF on the A1?

When I enquired about it on the C1 I was told it was only available  
with the AOM on the 3-laser board, not the AOTF on the 4 laser board?

Regards,

Adrian Smith
Centenary Institute, Sydney, Australia