Confocal NL AION confocal system for gentle 3D live-cell imaging

AION, by Confocal NL, is a confocal system that allows a 25 mm field of view (FOV) with a motorised pinhole for spot-on confocality. It produces high-contrast images from thicker specimens such as organoids, tissue samples, and plant and animal model organisms. The gentle conditions for live samples allow the product to excel in long-time-lapse experiments and imaging low-signal samples. With >96% QE, it can be used for live-cell imaging.

The combination of sCMOS camera-based detection and a set of filters allows the user to acquire images in both visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR). This enables improved temporal resolution, high sensitivity and a good signal-to-noise ratio. Even faster imaging, with cleaner results, can be achieved with additional motorised single-band emission filters. The user can achieve >50 fps @ 3Kx3K or >1000 fps in fixed line mode (camera limited).

The system uses a line illumination through a slit pinhole, instead of a point illumination found in point scanner confocal microscopes. This provides high temporal resolution while reducing phototoxicity. Since phototoxicity is one of the biggest challenges for researchers, this makes the product suitable for live-cell imaging.

The device can also be added to any widefield microscope, turning it into an advanced and fast scanning confocal imaging system. Three models are available, depending on the user’s needs: AION α, AION λ and AION Σ.