Essen IncuCyte time-lapse imaging

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The Essen IncuCyte system provides continuous, time-lapse images of live cells from within users’ standard cell-culture incubators. Users program the system to acquire images at different spatial locations and time points via a network-accessible graphical user interface. The system then automatically focuses on each spatial location and acquires the successive images automatically, around the clock.

Once the digital images are collected, custom image processing software calculates and graphs a variety of application-based image metrics ranging from monolayer confluence and object count to micro tube length and branching. In addition to the predefined metrics, users also have the ability to export individual images or time-lapse movies in a variety of formats.

IncuCyte is useful for a range of both labelled and non-labelled applications. Initially, the system was designed to provide non-perturbing (label-free), kinetic growth curves using a built-in confluence algorithm. The labour-free, automated image collection also provides a convenient method to digitally archive cell growth and morphology in real time.

There are four different versions of the IncuCyte. IncuCyte is a phase-only imaging system which is intended for non-labelled applications. This system can be fitted with our proprietary HD Optics to yield an IncuCyteHD model. IncuCyteFLR incorporates both HD Phase and single-channel fluorescence. The system is also configurable for different objectives. The IncuCyteEX is a robot-friendly version intended for integration in automated cell culture and assays systems.

The IncuCyte Plus and IncuCyteFLR microscope gantry will hold many different types and brands of cell culture vessels including dishes, T-flasks and microplates. Capacity depends on the type of vessel, but for reference the system can hold up to six microplates. Users can mix and match vessel types using three different tray positions and the cells remain stationary during image acquisition facilitating imaging on non-adherent cell lines.

The client-server-based user interface allows for multiple computers to access the IncuCyte in order to set up image acquisition, retrieve data or perform image analysis across the local network. This makes kinetic imaging easy and accessible to multiple users.