Carl Zeiss Introduces Lightsheet Z.1 LSFM Imaging System

Provides 3D fluorescence imaging of large living specimens with low phototoxicity

Published: Thursday, October 18, 2012 - 14:56

The Microscopy business group at Carl Zeiss presented a new technology at the annual meeting for the Society for Neuroscience, which took place Oct. 13–17, 2012, in New Orleans. The Lightsheet Z.1 provides biologists with a new method of imaging dynamic processes in living organisms.

Biologists can use the new microscopy system to observe the development of entire organisms throughout several days or more. The extremely low phototoxicity and the integrated incubation enable gentle imaging of specimens, which takes hours to days. On large objects in particular, such as fruit fly or zebra fish embryos, the light sheet microscope delivers more information than established methods of fluorescence microscopy. “The bigger the sample, the more you can get out of it with light sheet microscopy," says Pavel Tomančák from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, Germany, describing the benefits of the new method. Lightsheet Z.1 can also be used in marine and cell biology, as well as plant physiology.

Lightsheet Z.1 works with an expanded light beam (the light sheet) that illuminates only a thin section of the sample, thus protecting the rest of the specimen. Images are captured at a 90° angle to the light sheet. Therefore, Lightsheet Z.1 achieves maximum image quality at minimal illumination intensity and is particularly well-suited for long-term examinations of living specimens. Multi-view imaging allows data acquisition from different viewing angles. These can be combined through mathematical algorithms into 3D reconstructions and time-lapse videos.

The light sheet system of the Lightsheet Z.1 uses a new type of optical concept that combines cylindrical lens optics with laser scanning. Users receive homogeneously illuminated optical sections of complete examination objects.

“I’m confident that this illumination principle is going to revolutionize 3D fluorescence imaging,” says Olaf Selchow, product manager for light sheet microscopy at Carl Zeiss.

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About The Author

ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions

Headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany, ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions is a member of the Carl Zeiss Group. It is a global leader in CNC coordinate measuring machines and complete, multidimensional metrology solutions for a wide variety of industrial sectors. Approximately 1,800 employees at three manufacturing locations and more than 100 sales and service centers serve customers around the world.

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