Detector claims virtually zero noise, unlike older analogue detectors such as image plates, which are unable to detect low-level X-ray signals
Bruker AXS, a provider of X-ray systems for life sciences, used the 2005 International Union of Crystallography meeting, which was held recently in Florence, Italy, to introduce a digital imaging detector for macromolecular X-ray crystallography.
Called the Axiom 200, the detector is based on the company's proprietary microgap detector technology.
Unlike older and inherently noisier analogue detectors, such as image plates, which are unable to detect low-level X-ray signals, the Axiom has essentially zero detector noise, and is able to record each individual X-ray photon as it strikes the detector, says the company.
Roger Durst, chief technology officer for Bruker AXS, said: "The unprecedented sensitivity of the Axiom allows it to detect signals that would be buried in the noise of conventional detectors.
"Thus, it is now possible to achieve protein structural resolution in the home laboratory that previously would be available only at a synchrotron beamline".
In addition, the detector features zero read-out dead-time, again distinguishing it from older detector technologies which typically spend many seconds (or even minutes) reading out the recorded analogue signal.
By eliminating read-out dead-time, the Axiom is the only imaging detector to support 'continuous scans' where the goniostat is scanned without stopping between frames, as is necessary with conventional detectors, claims the company.
This eliminates the mechanical jitter associated with goniostat acceleration and shutter timing, and thus can improve the crystallography data quality even further.
Matthew Benning, senior applications scientist at Bruker AXS, said: "Its ultra-high sensitivity and zero read-out dead-time allows Axiom to acquire data much faster than conventional analogue detector technologies.
"This makes the Axiom the ideal detector for many high-throughput crystallography applications, including protein screening and ligand-binding studies".
Axiom also features a large active area, with a 200mm diameter, together with high spatial resolution that allows large protein crystal unit cells to be resolved.
