Olympus has introduced the advanced Cellfrap system as part of its Xcellence live cell fluorescence imaging station.
Olympus Cellfrap offers microsecond real-time photo-bleaching and photo-manipulation experiments with hardware-based device synchronisation.
These include Frap, Flip, Flap, pattern bleaching, photo-activation and photo-conversion applications, giving users advanced experimental options.
This system also delivers simultaneous laser manipulation and observation at the click of a button.
Intelligent scanning algorithms that target only the region of interest (ROI) remove the need for line scanning between ROIs and therefore increase the scan speed.
With Cellfrap it is possible to undertake simultaneous photo-bleaching and image acquisition of multiple ROIs.
Cellfrap offers pre-defined Frap experiments for straightforward investigations of cellular dynamics through the integration of Frap within the Experiment Manager software.
'Fire on Click' experiments also enable online triggering of single and multi-point bleaching via the mouse for manipulating moving specimens, such as vesicles.
For advanced users, high-end photo-manipulation techniques enabled by the Cellfrap module include: Flip, Flap, photo-activation and photo-conversion applications.
In the advanced mode users can readily configure the system to exact requirements, even adjusting for extremely fast movements.
The module also enables pattern bleaching of large numbers of small areas (for example, every 1um), to simulate Fluorescent Speckle Microscopy (FSM), removing the need for months of time-consuming experiments.
The speed and precision of Frap delivered by the Olympus Cellfrap tool is made possible by using the real-time controller together with camera-based imaging, which is up to 10 times faster than point scanner confocal-based Frap.
Due to the hardware-based synchronisation the first frames can be acquired as early as 150us after the actual Frap experiment ended.
This gives the user the ability to record quantitative data at the most important stage of the Frap experiment.
By providing a complete solution for all photo-bleaching, photo-conversion and photo-control techniques, Cellfrap is said to offer greater value for money than standard confocal-based Frap.
It is compatible with the advanced Celltirf and Cellspin Xcellence modules, since it can operate independently of the standard fluorescence and camera ports of the microscope.
