Confocal Imaging

Confocal Imaging

Confocal microscopy is an optical sectioning technique which removes out-of-focus light by using a pinhole in the detection light path. This creates an image with improved contrast and ability to resolve finer detail.  By acquring a series of optical sections through a specimen it is possible to create a three dimensional model of the sample.

The Imaging Facility has a number of different confocal microscopes including three point-scanning systems and one spinning disk system.  Different experiments require different approaches, but generally speaking, point-scanning confocal microscopy offers the greatest flexibility whereas spinning disk confocal microscopy is the preferred option for live cell imaging.

Our Systems:

Leica Stellaris DMi8

Leica Stellaris 8 with FLIM

Point-scanning confocal with galvo and resonance scanners

3x HyD-S 2x HyD-X detectors

405 nm, 488 nm & white light (440-790 nm) lasers

Full spectral detection

Stage-top incubator (temp and CO2)

Falcon FLIM, FCS

Nikon AX-R with N-SPARC

Point-scanning confocal with galvo and resonance scanners

405, 440, 488, 515, 561, 635 & 730 nm lasers

4x PMT detectors (2 with tuneable detection windows)

N-SPARC detector (enhanced resolution and sensitivity)

Stage-top incubation (temperature and CO2)

Piezo stage

Nikon confocal
Yokogawa CSU scanhead

Olympus Evident SpinSR

Spinning disk confocal

Full environment enclosure to regulate temperature, CO2 and O2

50 um pinhole and SoRa (high resolution) disk options

405, 440, 488, 515, 561 and 640 nm lasers

2x Hamamatsu Fusion Cameras

4-channel FRAP laser unit