Olympus is launching the BX3 range of upright research microscope systems for observation and imaging tasks at the Biotechnica exhibition in Hannover, which runs until 7 October.
The BX3 systems are said to provide users with a 'blank canvas' to fully define their own working environment - from the microscope and imaging components, through software workflows and graphical user interfaces, right down to the positioning of the controls on the desktop.
The manual BX53 frame offers complete system flexibility with optional coded and automated modules while the BX63 frame provides advanced automation as standard.
As a result, the Olympus BX3 microscopes can be combined with imaging modules, cameras and the Cellsens software programmes to enable users to build a system designed to their specific needs.
The BX63 has been developed with a control concept that can be personalised, providing the user with multiple options for managing the entire microscopy and imaging process.
This concept features a programmable touch-panel control function that simplifies observation and imaging tasks and can be placed wherever the user wants.
It controls all of the components of the imaging system, enabling users to change the objective, mirror unit and observation method as well as to navigate and focus the sample.
In addition to the touch-screen control, the BX63 can also be fitted with a detachable remote control, providing the effect of traditional mechanical knobs for focus (Z) and stage position (X, Y).
The unit features buttons for changing between observation methods, objectives and mirror units, as well as for adjusting light intensity.
The X, Y stage control can be fixed on either side of, or even separated from, the main control unit.
The BX63 control concept also automates many of the optical adjustments required on changing between contrast methods.
This contrast management automates condenser position, top lens, aperture stop, field stop, polariser, fluorescence shutter, mirror turret position and light intensity according to the respective objective and contrast method selected by the user.
On the BX53, the transmitted attenuation filters and fluorescence shutters can be operated from either side of the frame, which also features the centrally positioned illumination intensity control dial.
The ergonomic fine focus adjustment handle can be placed on the left or the right to match the position of the stage handle, which is also available in left- or right-handed configurations.
If the microscope is fitted with an Olympus digital camera, the optical path switch can be attached on both sides of the ergonomic tilting tube.
For documentation convenience, a remote exposure button is available that can freely be placed.
As a result, users maintain full control over their workspace.
As well as the standard halogen light source, the Olympus BX63 can be fitted with a true-colour LED system.
This provides a colour rendering index matching that of a halogen bulb with a daylight filter, owing to its unique wavelength profile.
This makes it ideal for high-colour clarity across the entire range of bright-field stains, which is not possible with standard LED illumination systems.
Apart from the colour rendering features, users also benefit from excellent life spans (approximately 20,000 hours) and the low power consumption of the true-colour LED providing low running costs and reduced downtime.
Olympus has introduced a fluorescence illumination concept based around the fly-eye lens system, which is claimed to provide excellent homogeneity for fluorescence illumination, ensuring even illumination across the entire field of view, whatever the wavelength.
This, coupled with high transmission and the minimal auto-fluorescence of the entire optical pathway, ensures that the BX3 microscopes are the ideal platform for fluorescence microscopy.
In addition, the new eight-position filter turret not only provides the capacity for multi-colour fluorescence studies but also offers fast, tool-free mirror cube exchange.
The cubes are designed to maximise S/N by capturing more than 99 per cent of stray light and using advanced multi-layer filters with steep cut-offs for a highly defined wavelength selection.
The signal-to-noise ratio is improved through the use of Olympus's low auto-fluorescence immersion oil.
With the capability to use mercury or xenon arc burners, highly stabilised EXFO X-Cite arc burners and the CoolLED fluorescent LED systems, users are offered a choice for fluorescence illumination.
The BX53 enables users to build a system that suits their needs.
The optional coded nosepiece and mirror turret modules enable the automatic recording and sharing of microscope magnification and setting information for comparing, measuring and scaling images.
A range of motorisation components is also available for the BX53, including a nosepiece, a mirror turret, a universal condenser, an ND filter wheel and a stage, enabling it to be matched to the needs of the user and to provide similar contrast management capabilities as the BX63.
The BX63 is completely motorised and is focused via the nosepiece rather than the stage, which enables the stage to be fixed, making it more stable.
The motorised stage is driven by advanced, high-precision, ultrasonic piezo technology, providing silent, smooth and precise operation.
The stage can even be positioned by hand, enabling rapid gross sample alignment while encoders continuously read out X, Y position.
The user can set precise co-ordinates and navigate directly to them at high speed.
According to Olympus, the true power of a motorised BX3 microscope comes to the fore when using the Cellsens software to control complex imaging processes such as multiple image alignment (MIA), multi-position or Z-stack acquisition.
The fully customisable control concept of the Olympus BX3 microscope systems continues seamlessly with the Cellsens software, with tool placement and user-definable workflows that can be personalised.
