Andor BC43 CF compact confocal microscope

Andor BC43 confocal microscope

Small in size, big in power - that's the new plug & play confocal microscope from ANDOR, suitable for both beginners and experienced microscopists!

Thanks to its compact dimensions (505 x 633 x 443 mm - W x D x H), the BC43 CF fits into even a small working space, and also benefits from a sophisticated design with a lightweight, tight and opaque cover and a built-in anti-vibration plate, so there is no need for a darkroom or separate optical table.

Less time for training, more time for imaging!

The BC43 CF is an intuitive microscope that even novice scientists can easily master thanks to its simple operating procedures and minimal maintenance!

Integrated software

Complementary software for control and basic image data processing - FUSION- is integrated into the BC43 CF, providing superior imaging in a few easy steps. The advantage of the Fusion software is primarily:

• Real-time 3D data visualization simultaneously with scanning
• User-friendly interface with intuitive controls
• Easy setup of protocols for multidimensional experiments
• Post-acquisition data processing - GPU-accelerated stitching and deconvolution(ClearView-GPU)
• Automatic image capture of large samples (larger than the field of view) and stitching into 2D and 3D montages for a complete sample image
• Patented Focus Seek & Lock autofocus technology - to simplify focusing on samples and maintaining focus during long time-lapse shots and acquisition of large samples

Also at the heart of the BC43 CF is the core software package for visualization and analysis of microscopy data - IMARIS, which builds on Fusion's common *.ims data format to speed and simplify the transition between image data acquisition and analysis. Imaris software allows users to:

• Visualize their microscopy images in 2D/3D/4D quickly and easily.
• Create iso-surface reconstructions for better interpretation and presentation of raw data
• Easily create high-resolution images and multi-dimensional video sequences

Additional application-specific modules can be added to the basic Imaris package to extend the analysis capabilities, e.g. Imaris for cell biology, neuroscience, etc.

Mammalian cell in prophase. Image was acquired using BC43 confocal mode, using 4 acquisition channels and covering 10 μm Z range at Nyquist. Image was further deconvolved and rendered in Imaris. Dark blue - actin, yellow - microtubules, magenta -mitochondria, cyan-DNA. Image credits: Claudia Florindo, Andor Technology.

Hardware:

• High-speed confocal imaging to capture dynamic events in thicker samples
• Widefield mode for light-sensitive samples and to detect the weakest signals
• Flexibility in imaging, ability to combine multiple imaging modalities in a single protocol
• Desktop compact device with opaque, dark enclosure (eliminates the need for a dark room) and built-in anti-vibration mechanism
• 5-position motorized lens carousel
• Efficient navigation, position and focus per sample with adjustable navigation and focus speed via ergonomic 3D joystick
• Patented Borealisillumination system for confocal and widefield imaging providing uniform illumination across the entire field of view and greater light beam transmission
• Highly sensitive detector for short exposures and photobleaching reduction, offering high dynamic range to capture both weak and bright signals in a single frame without saturation

Software:

• Complementary Fusion control software with ClearView-GPU deconvolution module (up to 50x acceleration via GPU) to provide increased image resolution and contrast and improve overall image quality
• Simple workflow from sample insertion to image acquisition - just insert the sample, find the point of interest, set the thresholds, and get the image with a single click. No need for lengthy training or previous experience.
• Patented Focus Seek & Lock technology for improved sample focusing even in longer time-lapse experiments
• Multi-dimensional display function for visualizing the entire sample - simultaneous creation of time-lapse images, Z-stacks and tile positions
• Automatically acquires data of large samples (larger than the field of view) and stitches them into 2D and 3D montages for a complete image
• Enables multiwell imaging - displays 6, 12, 24 and 96-well culture plates
• Real-time3D dataimaging provides instant visual feedback on the progress of the experiment for real-time data evaluation and visualization
• Basic Imarissoftware package for visualization and comprehensive analysis of hundreds of GB of 2D/3D/4D microscopy data, expandable with application-specific modules

Zebrafish fin in the process of bone regeneration. Image shows the perfect stitching of 4 imaging fields, using three channels and 51 stacks for each field, covering a Z range of 174 μm. Newly formed bony tissue in purple (calcein staining) and cathepsin k+ cells (the osteoclasts) in yellow, DNA is in Cyan. Image credits: Alessio Carletti, Universidade do Algarve

The main microscopic unit:

• Imaging modes: spinning disk confocal microscopy, epifluorescence widefield, transmitted light - brightfield and differential phase contrast
• Imaging methods: single color, multicolor, Z-stacks, time-lapse, multiposition, multiwell, montage and 2D/3D stitching
• ClearView GPU: removes non-specific background signals in the sample and enhances resolution beyond normal optical limits

Camera:

• Resolution: 6.5 μm pixel; 2048 x 2000 pixel (4.1 MPx)
• Quantum efficiency: up to 82%
• FOV: 18.4 mm diagonally
• Cooling: 0°C (32°F)
• Images: monochrome, 16bit

Illumination:

• Fluorescence source: 4 fixed wavelengths 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 638 nm
• Transmitted light: broad spectrum LED

Optics:

• Motorized carousel for 5 lenses
• Lens magnification: the microscope always includes a 2x magnification objective to facilitate sample navigation. The remaining 4 positions can be fitted with lenses of your choice and requirements
• Emission filter set for imaging commonly used fluorophores (DAPI, Alexa 488/GFP, Alexa 546/mCherry/TRITC, Cy5/Alexa Fluor 640)
• Motorised XY stage: positioning range 110 x 80 mm; resolution 100 nm
• Z-control & Focus: 14.5 mm positioning range
• Seek & Lock Technology: automatically find the focal plane and maintain focus stability during time-lapse experiments
• Sample holders: standard slides (25 x 75 mm), culture dishes (35 mm diameter), multiwell culture plates (6, 12, 24 and 96), cover slips for multiwell chambers (2, 4, 8)
• Incubator (optional item): Stage-top, sliding lid for easy access and sample change, heater for oil immersion lenses

Workstation:

• PC: Windows™ 10 software, 64 GB DDR4 RAM, 512 GB PCIe SSD Boot drive, 4 GB graphics card, 2 TB image data storage

Flatfish image acquired with Andor Bench Top Confocal BC 43 using multiple tile acquisition and montage. 6 tiles were acquired to compose the image covering a range of 554 µm. The image was rendered with Imaris. Image credit: Marco Campinho, University of Algarve and Claudia Florindo, Andor Technology.

Drosophila egg chamber. The image is a maximum intensity projection of 309 Z planes overing a range of 93 µm. The image was deconvolved using ClearView and rendered in Imaris. (Yellow-DNA, Cyan-actin). Image credit: Rui Silva, University of Algarve and Claudia Florindo, Andor Technology.

This uninjured adult digit (12 week old mouse) comes from a transgenic animal Dmp1 Cre ERT crossed to a TdTomato reporter. The magenta signal correlates with the Td Tomato reporter which would be marking cells of the bone linage (Dmp1 positive) and the 'cyan' is a simple Hoechst stain. Image credit: Dr Mekayla Storer, SickKids, Toronto, Canada.

Confocal Imaging modality of the Andor Benchtop confocal BC43 was used to acquire an early-stage Drosophila Embryo. The image presented from this experiment is a result of the stitching of 6 imaging fields, over a Z range of 40 µm. Microtubules are labelled blue, Centrosomes in Yellow and DNA as Magenta. Image credit: Ines Baião-Santos and Álvaro Tavares, University of Algarve, Claudia Florindo, Andor Technology.

GFP and mCherry labeled membrane markers expressed in Drosophila salivary gland cells. Image credit: Cheng-I Jonathan Ma and Julie Brill, Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children.

Development of a Drosophila embryo is effortlessly visualised in 3D with up to 4 channels using the confocal imaging mode of the BC43. Image credit: Ines Baião-Santos and Álvaro Tavares, University of Algarve, Claudia Florindo, Andor Technology.

Chicken embryo stage HH15/16 stained with DAPI. At this stage of development, the notochord, neural tube and somites are clearly visible. Image credit: Tomás Azevedo, University of Algarve and Claudia Florindo, Andor Technology

Drosophila embryo stained with neuronal marker were set up on a multi-position/montage acquisition. This selected image is a montage of a 3X3 field at the selected position, with 101 z slices covering 50 µm range. Image credit: Álvaro Tavares, University of Algarve and Claudia Florindo, Andor Technology.

This image is a single 3D view from a timelapse experiment - cell division can clearly be observed throughout the developing Drosophila embryo. DNA is in mangenta, microtubules are in Cyan. Image credit: Ines Baião-Santos and Álvaro Tavares, University of Algarve, Claudia Florindo, Andor Technology.