Nikon C1si Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope equipped with the following: Nikon TE2000-E2 fully motorized (nosepiece, filters, condenser), DIC inverted microscope, filters for UV, CFP, YFP, GFP, FITC, dsRed, TRITC, CY5, imaging Laser lines: 408, 457, 488, 514, 561 and 638 nm excitation lines and filters for all emissions, three channel PMT detector modules Spectral detector with 2, 5 or 10 nm resolution, observing multistained specimens FRET experiments, separating the signal from autofluorescence, Plan Apo objectives 10x, 20x, 60x (water), 100x. Plan fluor 4x objective. Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) for all Plan Apo objectives. 120 W X-Cite illuminator for fluorescence. Z Series, Time Series, Averaging, Channel Series and Line Series, spectral unmixing and FRET.
Nikon Eclipse E800 photomicroscope equipped with brightfield, DIC, phase and fluorescence optics including X-Cite 120 lamp epi-fluorescence illumination with various filter sets from UV to IR wavelengths. Objectives include a 4X, 0.13 n.a. plan fluor; 10X, 0.30 plan fluor; 20X, 0.50 n.a. plan fluor; 40X, 0.75 n.a. plan fluor; 60X, 1.40 n.a. plan apo; or 100X, 1.3 n.a. plan apo. Digital images can be collected using a Roper CoolSnap HQ 16 bit monochrome camera and captured to a Pentium IV 2.6 GHz personal computer using Media Cybernetics Image Pro Plus. The software controls fluorescence excitaion and emission filter wheels and focus motor. Digital images are stored to the hard drive and can be copied to CD-R, DVD-R recorders or servers for future analysis and measurements.
Optical Insights Spectral-DV Full Spectrum Imaging System™ attached to our Nikon E800 research fluorescence microscope. This device addresses the problems posed by overlap of fluorescence emission signals. Applications include: Separation of specific fluorescence and auto-fluorescence; Quantitative separation of true FRET signal from bleed through signal of donor; Colocalization in the presence of multiple fluorophores; Pixel classification based on spectral signature; Spectral karyotyping (SKY); Multi-Color FISH (mFISH).
BioRad MRC 1024 Laser Confocal Microscope (Nikon Diaphot Inverted) with a 15 mW Krypton/Argon laser source allowing for a wide range of fluorescent dye usage (488, 569 and 647 nm excitation lines). Sequential and simultaneous three channel image collection is possible along with brightfield imaging. An array of objectives for different needs (long working distance, dry and oil immersion) 4X/0.1 dry, 10X/0.3 dry, 20X/0.75 dry, 40X/0.8 dry, 40X/1.3 oil, 60X/1.4 oil. Temperature regulation of the stage from 0 to 60 degrees Celsius is possible using the Bioptechs live cell incubation chamber (physiological chamber and perfusion chamber) and objective temperature controllers making 4D data collections possible. Features up to 1260 x 1024 resolution, Z-stack & I-stack with spectral distributions of fluorescent emissions, simple 3D software allowing 3D reconstruction and rotation. Operation Instructions for the Imaging Center confocal microscope.
Olympus IX70 Inverted Fluorescence Microscope with fluorescence and phase contrast capabilities. A CoolCam 2000, liquid-cooled, 3-chip color video camera is available for both normal and low light applications. Temperature regulation of the stage from 0 to 60 degrees Celsius is possible using the Bioptechs stage and objective temperature controllers for time lapse observation.
Nikon SMZ1500 Zoom Stereomicroscope with a zoom range of 0.75X to 11.25X . A coaxial episcopic illuminator using a fiber optic light source offers bright illumination over the entire surface of the sample. Oblique Coherent Contrast (OCC) lighting permits observation of samples with extremely low contrast in high relief. The system is equipped with a color digital camera.
Arcturus PixCell® II Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) System. Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) enables you to dramatically increase the sensitivity and accuracy of molecular assays by starting with samples of homogeneous cell types and multi-cellular structures isolated from whole tissue or cytology samples. LCM utilizes a low-power infrared laser to melt a special thermoplastic film over the cell(s) of interest. Especially developed CapSure® HS or CapSure® Macro Caps that are coated with this thermoplastic film are placed on the tissue section or cytology sample. The PixCell® IIe LCM instrument is then used to direct the laser through the cap to melt the film onto the cells of interest. When you lift the cap, the selected cells remain attached and are captured for further analysis. This unique approach to microdissection-developed in 1996 at the National Institutes of Health and available exclusively from Arcturus ensures that biological molecules such as RNA and DNA, remain undamaged during the microdissection process.
Electron Microscopy
Hitachi S3500N Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with Windows NT Operating System, Quartz PCI digital imaging, Ethernet interface, photo CRT recording camera, super-VHS videotape with audio dub, stage with motor driven X & Y axes, Environmental Secondary Electron Detector (ESED), Absorbed Electron EBIC detector, Robinson Backscattered Electron Detector (BSE), standard Secondary Electron Detector (SED), Infrared ChamberScope, EDAX Phoenix x-ray microanalysis system with Super Ultra-thin window, 10mm Compact Detector Unit, Windows NT Operating System, elemental mapping, spectral processing, multi-point analysis, Hitachi Hi-Mouse software, Emitech K-1150 Cryogenic System, with cryo-prep unit, airlock interface to SEM, sputter coater.
Philips CM12 Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) with motor driven stage and SIA L3C Digital Camera. Includes EDAX Power MX ultra-thin window X-ray microanalysis system, electron diffraction system, super-VHS videotape with audio dub, Ethernet.
Specimen Preparation
Leica EM TP - tissues can be processed into a variety of resins for subsequent electron and light microscopy analysis. The pre-heat/cool system allows the correct reagent temperature to be maintained throughout processing. Small vials are available for EM processing and larger for LM which can also be used for high throughput sample processing runs where over 150 EM samples can be processed in one run.
Other specimen preparation and ancillary equipment Solutions and reagents to prepare specimens for light and electron microscopy. Equipment includes:
Pella
Microwave Specimen Processors, Reichert Ultracut E, RMC MT-7000 and Leica Ultracut UCT ultramicrotomes, Leica CM1800 Cryostat, Pella 102 Vibratome, Denton Vacuum Evaporator, Fullam Sputter-coater, Tousimis Autosamdri-814 Critical Point Dryer, embedding ovens, chemical hoods.
Scanning & Printing
Fuji Pictography 3000 capable of continuous tone, photographic-quality prints up to 8.5 x 11 inches
Hewlett-Packard 5500PS Large Format Printer prints photographic quality posters up to 5 ft x 100 ft in size. We also have a 79 inch rotary-action trimmer available for use.
Laser and Color Phaser printers for printing on letter size paper, envelopes, and transparencies.
We carry the latest high-resolution digital scanners for all of your scanning needs, including transparencies, film, slides and media types of all varieties. Bulk 35 mm slide scanning is also available.
Storm 860 Phosphorimager/Fluorimager with three image detection modes:
You can use screens for 14C, 32P, 33P, 35S, and 125I We also have a screen for 3H.
The STORM is also a two-color (blue and red excitation) fluorescence imager, which opens up many new possibilities for quantitative analyses:
- Quantitative westerns by chemifluorescence.
- Nonradioactive gel mobility shift experiments, in which two different species can both be separately detected and quantified.
- Fluorescent dyes for quantitative versions of coomassie staining
Multimedia Equipment
Macintosh and PC computers with all the image processing and presentation software you'll need, including deconvolution. Unlimited file storage capabilities on several different removable drive options. All computers are network and internet connected.
Complete multimedia equipment including a Sony TRV-900 Digital Video (DV) Camera and FinalCut Pro nonlinear editing system with DVD recording capabilities.
Return to:
U of M Home
