Now there is a new way to achieve confocal quality imaging without using laser scanning technology. A combination of Volocity software and precision hardware that provides a cost effective solution, converting your standard fluorescence microscope into a grid confocal acquisition system - at a fraction of the cost of an LSCM!

Traditional confocal microscopes incorporate lasers as the excitation light source, but laser technology can be expensive, difficult to maintain and may not be appropriate for your samples. The Volocity Grid Confocal includes the OptiGrid structured light device that does not require the use of lasers. This means that the Volocity Grid Confocal is a cost effective technique that inflicts less photo-damage and can be used with many different types of samples.

The OptiGrid works by capturing all the image data residing within the depth of field together with all the out-of-focus information coming from the wide field optical system. Using a phase sampling technique, the OptiGrid then eliminates all signals not within the plane of focus. The result is an in-focus confocal image or optical section of a thickness that is the depth of focus of the optical system.

The latest version of the OptiGrid, launched in January 2007, has been improved by the addition of a motor that moves the OptiGrid axially in the light path of the microscope. This means that once the correct focal position for each excitation wavelength has been established, the positions can be stored as part of the light path settings in Volocity Acquisition.

During a multi-channel acquisition protocol, the focal position of the OptiGrid for each channel will be restored automatically with each light path, so that you can be certain that the optimum setting for each excitation wavelength is used during your experiment.

The OptiGrid is fast enough to display a live confocal quality preview as the microscope is focused and will acquire data in 2D or 3D over time. The device is compatible with a range of microscopes, so you can use it to convert your current standard fluorescence microscope, saving you from unnecessary expense.

20 hour old zebrafish embryo

Image capture in the Volocity Grid Confocal is controlled by Volocity Acquisition software. The award winning design of the user interface makes the acquisition dialog easy to configure – from 2D, single channel capture to complex time resolved, 3D, multichannel experiments. Include a scanning XY stage in your hardware and you can perform multi-point image acquisition on a single slide or multi-well plate, capturing a 2D image, or even a 3D or 4D volume from every point or well.

The Volocity Grid Confocal also includes Volocity Visualization, so you can see your 3D data instantly as rendered objects. Channels can be turned off and brightness controlled to achieve the view you need. You can play through time resolved 3D volumes so that you can relate structure to function more easily. Create QuickTime or AVI movies as well as QuickTime Virtual Reality files to share and publish your results.

The Volocity Grid Confocal configuration is part of the Volocity product family so can easily be extended to include object detection, measurement, tracking and colocalization tools as well as image restoration.

The Volocity Grid Confocal may be the ideal solution to your imaging needs – affordable, easy to use and providing exceptional image quality. Contact us to discover more!