New imaging system with higher resolution

Dec 14 2008

Applied Precision, Inc. a leading provider of imaging, measurement, and analysis systems for the life sciences industries announced that it will introduce a new imaging system at the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) annual conference with twice the resolution of traditional microscopes.

The DeltaVision|OMX system is based on the OMX microscopy system developed by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and exclusively licensed to Applied Precision. The DeltaVision|OMX system solves two fundamental limitations that have frustrated scientists, spatial and temporal resolution. DeltaVision|OMX overcomes spatial resolution limits by using 3D-SIM true structured illumination technology invented by a UCSF team led by Drs. Sedat, Agard, and Gustafsson that doubles the optical resolution of light microscope. Equally important, DeltaVision|OMX also overcomes speed limitations for cellular imaging by using novel electronics and optics developed by the same team at UCSF. "DeltaVision|OMX represents a tremendous step forward in the imaging and analysis of biological samples," reported Paul Goodwin, Technical Fellow and Senior Product Line Manager at Applied Precision. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this enabling technology to the life sciences community," said Joe Victor, President at Applied Precision. Ron Seubert, CEO at Applied Precision added: "We are privileged to have the opportunity to commercialize a technology where every image that is acquired reveals details that have never been seen before."

Over the past year, Applied Precision has built, delivered, and installed six early adopter DeltaVision|OMX systems into leading laboratories in the US, Canada, and UK. These systems are aiding scientists studying HIV, neurological disease, cancer, DNA repair, gene regulation, and a host of other diseases and mechanisms. Applied Precision is displaying the production version of DeltaVision|OMX at the ASCB conference, December 13-17 in San Francisco. The production model includes a compact industrial design, additional options for illumination, and new software features such as the softWoRx DMS data management software developed in collaboration with Glencoe Software, Inc. and based on the open protocol OMERO technology developed by the Open Microscopy Environment (OME) consortium.

Applied Precision will also introduce important new capabilities for its DeltaVision Core and personalDV products including microtiter plate capability, new laser based applications, and solid state illumination options.