Key Features for Optigrid M |
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 Resolution enhancement by removal
of out of focus blur
Sharp, high contrast semi-confocal
images
Cost efficient optical sectioning
Optical sections through thick specimens
3-D reconstruction of cell groups
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Seeing through the blur
Optigrid M uses a combination of physical and mathematical processing to produce near-confocal-quality images using a stabilised arc burner illumination source. This is achieved by using a one-dimensional optical grid mounted on a piezoelectronically driven actuator to project a line pattern onto the specimen. The grid is moved perpendicularly to the grid lines, in steps 1/3 of its period length so that three grid movements cover one optical section. This process returns a strong signal where focus is sharp and a weak signal where focus is soft.
These optically clear image portions are recombined using a specially developed substractive algorithm, which ensures that only in-focus pixels are used and that the overlapping sections of each image portion line up. This results, in most cases, in images possessing the same clarity and resolution as those produced using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM).
A z-stack taken through a sample can be combined to create a haze-free, ultra sharp composite image. Furthermore, image stacks can also be used to produce 3-D reconstructions using cell* or additional post-processing software. |
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Chromatic compensation
Different wavelengths require the grid position to be adjusted slightly to compensate for chromatic effects. The Optigrid M only needs to be set once for each wavelength using the calibration slide. Once set, the grid position changes automatically depending on the fluorescence wavelength selected. |
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Component integration
The Optigrid M can be easily integrated into an overall imaging system, since the control unit interfaces seamlessly with the Olympus xcellence platforms. This provides users with excellent imaging throughput and programmable experiment repeatability for parallel multiple-specimen imaging.
The Optigrid M concept is best exploited with a highly stable fluorescence light source. This ensures that each of the grid images is captured with exactly the same light intensity. Olympus offers a range of stabilised mercury and mercury/xenon arc-burner-based fluorescence light sources. |
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