RCM2

RCM2 & RCM2.5 | Point-Scanning Confocal Microscopes

Modality

Laser-Scanning Confocal Microscopy

Configuration

Confocal & Widefield / Inverted & Upright

Resolution

120 nm (deconvolved) / 170 nm (raw)

Sensitivity

95% QE (@ 550 nm)

FOV

220 x 220 µm² (@ 40x)

Speed

2 fps (@ 512 x 512)

Rescan Confocal Microscopy Add-On

Meet RCM2

Brighter images. Larger field of view.

RCM2 is our second generation rescan confocal microscopy add-on, with digital scanner technology. It makes bi-directional scanning the standard and allows a speed of 2fps at 512×512 pixels. RCM2 has optics to make it suitable for super-resolution imaging with high NA objectives in the low magnification range, like 40x 1.4. A lower magnification allows for a bigger field of view (FOV), brighter images, and even lower laser power. RCM2 has demonstrated imaging at 10 nano-watt excitation power!

Improvements of sCMOS cameras allow you to sample resolution of low magnification objectives effectively, without increasing the exposure time. In a regular PMT-based confocal this is not possible.

Improve your imaging experience with high-resolution confocal microscopy.

The benefits of RCM2

Using RCM2 with a 40x 1.4 objective, you can see more cells at full resolution at once. A larger field of view increases the chances of getting the results you need thanks to laser scanning microscope magnification.

Obtain sharp images with a high signal-to-noise ratio even in samples with a low amount of epitopes or weak stainings. Get more from your samples.

Use even lower laser power to minimize phototoxicity and photobleaching during live-cell imaging.

Getting super-resolution raw images, without averaging or integration, reduces the acquisition time and allows for a more precise analysis of the subcellular structures.

Who should use RCM2 and why?

Capture datasets of 170nm resolution raw (120 after deconvolution) over a very large FOV. Study fast live-cell dynamics and perform 4D imaging in optimized conditions. The increased detection efficiency facilitates acquisition in low fluorescence conditions, like single-molecule detection (smFISH).

In combination with silicon objectives, RCM2 allows for deep 3D imaging of organoids, zebrafish embryos, or larger live samples.

What is RCM?

RCM stands for rescan confocal microscopy. It’s also a 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 scanning confocal 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.

Rescan confocal microscope 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 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.

We can deliver the Rescan Confocal Microscope 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, Rescan Confocal Microscope 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.

The new Rescan Confocal Microscope (1.1)

The new RCM (1.1) is based on RCM (1.0) and has all the same features. On top of these, the new RCM offers:

  • Bypass mode
  • Two times the field of view
  • A scanning speed up to 4 frames per second
  • Integration in SVI Huygens deconvolution software

RCM 1.1 is available in a VIS and NIR version.

Resolution: the standard resolution of the RCM is  170 nm at 488 nm wavelength. This is also called super-resolution. In contrast to other super-resolution systems, RCM offers the super-resolution of the live (raw) image without any processing. It is possible to improve the RCM resolution even further, to 120 nm using deconvolution.

Frame rate: the frame rate of the RCM is 1 fps at 512 x 512, which makes the acquisition time of a 3 colour image about 3 seconds. The frame rate of  RCM 1.1 can be increased to 4 fps at 512 x 512, which makes the acquisition time of a 3 colour image less than 1 second. With the new RCM 1.1 applications that require a bit faster imaging are now possible.

Field of view: Rescan Confocal Microscope 1.0 has a Field of View (FOV) of 80 x 80 μm at 100x magnification, RCM 1.1 has the option to increase this FOV to 160 x 160 μm.

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 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.

Scroll to Top