RCM2

RCM2.5 | Laser-Scanning Confocal Microscope / Add-On

Modality

Laser-Scanning Confocal Microscopy

Configuration

Widefield & Confocal / Upright or Inverted

Resolution

120 nm (after deconvolution, raw image = 170nm)

Sensitivity

Up to 95% QE

FOV

220 µm x 220 µm (40x/1.4 lens)

Speed

2 fps (at 512 x 512)

RCM2.5 Confocal Imaging Microscope/Add-On

Meet RCM2.5

5 channels, Visible plus Near-Infrared (NIR) Imaging

RCM2.5 is a landmark achievement in confocal imaging. Building on the existing RCM2 platform, the manufacturer confocal NL developed the 2.5 version which uses up to 5 confocal lasers, extending over the Visible and Near-Infrared (NIR) bands. By operating at longer wavelengths, RCM2.5 allows you to use the latest advances in NIR dye development and look much deeper into your specimen. Experience complete experimental freedom and flexibility with RCM2.5

Improve your confocal imaging experience with RCM2.5

Who should use RCM2.5 and why?

High confocal microscope resolution & low phototoxicity

RCM2.5 is a very easy-to-use confocal microscope system, a system of great added value for any microscopy facility. This confocal microscope offers up to 95% Quantum Efficiency, whereas most other confocal microscopes only reach 20%. The RCM2.5 is characterized by the freedom and flexibility of being able to change the camera depending on the application. Moreover, the ability to conduct Near Infrared (NIR) Imaging is ideal for researchers working in the field of molecular biology and imaging, as this advanced system allows you to work efficiently with infrared probes.

What is RCM?

RCM is an easy to use, sensitive, high resolution and affordable confocal imaging system:

  • An ideal solution for small labs with limited budget, but demanding tasks, particularly when high sensitivity and resolution are desired from the imaging system,
  • A confocal scanning microscope that works as a camera, no need for an instruction manual
  • RCM is extremely easy to use: no hardware control or software processing needed, and the images are always RAW.

RCM can be delivered as a total microscope system with a selection of microscopes ( Nikon, Olympus, Leica or Zeiss ), a selection of cameras ( Hamamatsu, PCO, Andor, Photometrics ) and laser solutions (Omicron, Toptica ).

In case you already have a microscope in the lab, RCM is an upgrade to an existing wide-field fluorescence system – RCM can easily be added to the existing wide-field fluorescence microscope system to improve its resolution.

RCM Working Principle

The RCM technique extends standard confocal microscopy with a re-scanning unit, improving lateral resolution by √2 and reducing signal to noise ratio.

Re-scan Confocal Microscopy (RCM) is a new super-resolution technique based on standard confocal microscopy extended with an optical (re-scanning) unit that projects the image directly on a CCD-camera. This new microscope has improved lateral resolution (170 nm at 488 nm excitation), and strongly improved sensitivity, while maintaining the sectioning capability of a standard confocal microscope. It is particularly useful for biological applications where the combination of high-resolution and high-sensitivity is required (but not very high imaging speed).

The excitation lasers (blue and yellow lines) are directed via a dichroic mirror towards the first scanning unit SM1. As in a standard confocal microscope, the scanning unit scans the laser light in the sample and de-scans the emission light, directing it at the pinhole PH (green and red lines). After the pinhole, a second re-scan unit SM2 directs the light onto a camera chip.[/caption]

During scanning, re-scan mirrors (SM2) move faster than the first scan mirrors (SM1).  This magnifies the image on the camera chip compared to the sample, and eventually results in the higher resolution of the image. The resolution of the system is improved with the re-scan step by a factor of √2 (i.e. 1.41 times), compared to Abbe’s resolution limit by changing the angular amplitude of the re-scanner (SM2). Reduction of pinhole is no longer necessary to increase resolution. Closing down the pinhole only limits the amount of light passing through and decreases the signal to noise ratio due weaker signal. Since the re-scan is a purely optical method with no further image processing required, there is cost in time while improving the resolution. By using a sensitive camera as detector, the signal-to-noise ratio of the RCM is 4 times higher than in standard confocal microscopy.

To fully understand the principle of rescanning, resolution improvement and the optical layout of the RCM, please watch the video below that explains the components and the light path of the RCM (animation credits to StudioFlip). Additional technical details and test images can be found in De Luca et al (2013).

Watch the working principle here

The Re-scan Confocal Microscopy (RCM) module can be used to turn any fluorescent microscope into  a confocal microscope. For an upgrade,  laser(s) and a camera are needed.

Check magnificent Turnkey examples from our customers for your inspiration:

Let us know which equipment you have available, and we will make a custom tailored upgrade solution for you.

Meet RCM2.5

5 channels, Visible plus Near-Infrared (NIR) Imaging.

RCM2.5 is the next big thing in NIR confocal microscopy. Building on the existing RCM2 platform, we have developed a version that can utilize up to 5 lasers; extending over the Visible and Near-Infrared (NIR). Moreover, RCM2.5 enables you to use the latest advances in NIR dye development and look much deeper into your specimen. Experience complete experimental freedom and flexibility with our RCM2.5.

Improve your imaging experience with RCM2.5

Who should use RCM2.5 and why?

High resolution & low phototoxicity

RCM2.5 is a very easy-to-use NIR confocal microscope system, a system of great added value for any microscopy facility. This confocal microscope offers up to 95% Quantum Efficiency, whereas most other confocal microscopes only reach 20%. The RCM2.5 is characterized by the freedom and flexibility of being able to change the camera depending on the application. Moreover, the ability to conduct Near Infrared (NIR) Imaging is ideal for researchers working in the field of molecular biology and imaging, as this advanced system allows you to work efficiently with infrared probes.

Don’t need NIR? Check out the RCM2.

Rescan Confocal Microscope Models

Rescan Confocal MicroscopeWorking Principle

The Rescan Confocal Microscopy technique extends standard confocal microscopy with a re-scanning unit. It improves lateral resolution by √2 and reduces signal to noise ratio.

Rescan Confocal Microscope(RCM) is a new super-resolution technique based on standard confocal microscopy extended with an optical (re-scanning) unit that projects the image directly on a camera chip. This new microscope has improved lateral resolution (170 nm at 488 nm excitation), and strongly improved sensitivity, while maintaining the sectioning capability of a standard confocal microscope. It is particularly useful for biological applications that requires combination of high-resolution and high-sensitivity (but not very high imaging speed).

Diagram

Rescan Confocal Microscope
The excitation lasers (blue and yellow lines) are directed via a dichroic mirror towards the first scanning unit SM1. As in a standard confocal microscope, the scanning unit scans the laser light in the sample and de-scans the emission light, directing it at the pinhole PH (green and red lines). After the pinhole, a second re-scan unit SM2 directs the light onto a camera chip.

During scanning, re-scan mirrors (SM2) move faster than the first scan mirrors (SM1).  This magnifies the image on the camera chip compared to the sample, and eventually results in the higher resolution of the image. The re-scan step improves the resolution of the system by a factor of √2 (i.e. 1.41 times), compared to Abbe’s resolution limit by changing the angular amplitude of the re-scanner (SM2). Reduction of pinhole is no longer necessary to increase resolution. Closing down the pinhole only limits the amount of light passing through and decreases the signal to noise ratio due weaker signal. Since the re-scan is a purely optical method with no further image processing required.  There is a cost in time for improving the resolution. By using a camera as a detector, the SNR of the RCM is 4 times higher than the standard confocal microscopy.

To fully understand the principle of rescanning, resolution improvement and the optical layout of the RCM, please watch the video below that explains the components and the light path of the RCM (animation credits to StudioFlip). Additional technical details and test images can be found in De Luca et al (2013).

Watch the working principle here

The Rescan Confocal Microscopy (RCM) module can turn any fluorescent microscope into a NIR confocal microscope.

For an upgrade,  you need laser(s) and a camera

Check magnificent Turnkey examples from our customers for your inspiration:

Let us know which equipment you have available, and we make a custom tailored upgrade solution for you.

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