Main features
- Three imaging modes on a platform – Widefield, High-speed Confocal (spinning disk), Super resolution. Can be upgraded on site from widefield to confocal or super resolution.
- Imaging 10 times faster than conventional confocal – Microlens spinning disk technology enables 3D (z-stack) imaging and thick samples with superior speed, without sacrificing resolution or field of view.
- ClearView™ GPU Deconvolution – Removes out-of-focus haze from widefield images, processing more than 50 times faster than non-GPU solutions; ideal for samples up to 50 μm thick.
- High-sensitivity sCMOS lenses and camera – Lenses from 2x to 100x (air, oil, silicon oil), 4.1 MP camera, QE up to 82%, 18.5 mm (diagonal) field of view, detecting weak signals and fast motion without causing photobleaching.
- Seek & Lock™ automatic focusing system – Automatically finds the focal plane for new samples and maintains stability throughout long time-lapse imaging or large area scanning.
- Software integration Fusion & Imaris Quant – Intuitive interface, multi-dimensional experiment setup (Z, time, multiwell, montage, stitching 2D/3D); Imaris Quant for 3D/4D analysis, AI segmentation, isosurface rendering.
- Support for various sample types – Glass slides, 35 mm plates, multiwell plates (6, 12, 24, 96 well), chamber coverglass; optional CO₂ incubator for live samples.
Detailed description
Technology & principles
- Spinning disk (microlens + pinhole) → captures faster than confocal point scanning at least 10 times.
- Laser 405/488/561/640 nm, sCMOS 4.1 MP camera, eliminates out-of-focus light, creates optical sectioning.
- Super resolution SRRF‑Stream+ → resolution 140–180 nm, no complex system required.
- Motorized 5-position rotating lens, high-precision XYZ stage.
Common limitations of confocal
Confocal is expensive, bulky, requires expertise; widefield is blurry when imaging thick samples; confocal point scanning is slow, causing photobleaching, phototoxicity; super resolution is complex, expensive (STED, PALM, STORM); requires a flexible, easy-to-use, low-maintenance system.
Advantages of the Andor BC43 system
- BC43 compact benchtop, affordable, on-site upgrade.
- Spinning disk captures 10 times faster, reduces photobleaching, captures long 3D/time-lapse (24h) on samples hundreds of µm thick.
- SRRF‑Stream+ a few clicks away, no deep optical knowledge required.
- Supports widefield (high sensitivity), confocal (optical sectioning), DPC (label-free); simple Fusion workflow software.
Integration & expansion
- Fusion + Imaris Quant: multi-dimensional (Z, time, multiwell, montage, stitching 2D/3D), real-time 3D, AI analysis.
- Stage-top CO₂ incubator, objective heater oil → long-lasting live sample.
- Optional IQ/OQ (laser power, uniformity, co-registration, resolution, vibration) according to QUAREP-LiMi.