Sensitivity remains one of the most important criteria in confocal systems, and these new gallium arsenide phosphide detectors provide twice the sensitivity of standard items
Bio-Rad has launched it GaAsP detectors, which it says are the first high-sensitivity photomultiplier tubes for Radiance confocal laser scanning systems.
To this day sensitivity remains one of the most important criteria in selecting a suitable confocal system to meet the most demanding researchers needs. Providers of these instruments continue to modify optics, excitation sources and detection elements endeavouring to improve the sensitivity of their instruments.
Bio-Rad's gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) is a new high-sensitivity detector option for all new and existing Radiance 2100 products.
This innovation incorporates the new GaAsP photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) from Hamamatsu, with over twice the sensitivity associated with standard bi or multialkali PMTs.
These are available as an optional extra for all new Bio-Rad systems and as an upgrade for existing users.
The sensitivity offered by these PMT's provides three major benefits to the user.
Reduced scanning times.
Lower laser power, increasing sample viability.
Lower image noise, ensuring high quality images and results.
The new GaAsP detector combines all of these benefits and is said to be the ideal choice for scientists studying live cells or samples with weak fluorescence.
In addition to these benefits and the obvious advantages of increased detection sensitivity, this new option will also enable users (with the appropriate hardware), to perform fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (Flim).
Flim allows users to determine the lifetime and interactions of fluorophores by measuring the decay properties of the emitted fluroescence.
This analysis can be performed independently of factors like probe concentration and photobleaching, and can provide researchers with important information about the molecule of interest.
The high sensitivity detector option also adds significant advantages to Bio-Rad's current spectral analysis systems.
The Radiance Rainbow employs established filter technology ensuring excellent spectral separation and analysis of samples, avoiding the use of dispersive elements (ie, prism or gratings) to ensure maximum sensitivity.
This approach ensures more light is transmitted through the system which, when combined with GaAsP detectors, improves further on this approach to spectral analysis.
