Olympus Announces The IX3 Series Of Three Research Inverted Microscopes
Olympus Announces The IX3 Series Of Three Research Inverted Microscopes
Olympus Announces The IX3 Series Of Three Research Inverted Microscopes
Olympus Announces The IX3 Series Of Three Research Inverted Microscopes

July 02, 2012 –Tokyo, Japan (Techreleased) – Olympus Corporation (Representative Director and President: Hiroyuki Sasa) announced the launch today of the new IX3 Series of three research inverted microscopes: the IX83, IX73 and IX53 — platforms suitable for “live cell imaging” as well as five newly developed objectives.

The new IX3 Series research inverted microscopes add to their basic performance of “observing” a wide range of specimens and samples from live cells to fixed samples system expandability meeting diverse market needs, starting with time-lapse imaging of live cells cultured over a set period.
The IX83, IX73 and IX53 from the IX3 Series form a complete lineup succeeding the IX81, IX71 and IX51 models from the IX2 Series. Newly employing the deck system enables even greater expandability and flexibility on the microscopes. With quick and easy operation using the Olympus “cellSens” comprehensive imaging software, advanced imaging can be realized with the newly developed objectives.

Launch Overview

IX3 Series research inverted microscope

Product Name Launch Date
IX83 research inverted microscope July 2, 2012
IX73 research inverted microscope
IX53 inverted microscope

Main Features

  1. Deck system provides system expandability and flexibility on the microscope
  2. Quick and easy operation using cellSens comprehensive imaging software
  3. Five new objectives enable exceptional advanced imaging with outstanding optical performance.

Product Background

In the life science and medical research fields, significant advanced research has been actively carried out on live cells to reveal the roles and the functions of proteins or neurons, with findings applied to drug discoveries or new research domains. Inverted microscopes have been a powerful tool for observing a wide range of specimens such as live cells or fixed samples in these research fields.
But achieving expected imaging results requires considerable experience and advanced knowledge about microscopes, including how to properly exchange multiple units on systems or expand capabilities to meet research purposes. These circumstances present a major challenge to increase efficiency and improve microscope operations.
Olympus introduces the new research inverted microscope IX3 Series, which intrinsically features expandability of its microscope frame, is easy to use thanks to digital technology developed over many years of innovation and optimized optical performance through its technology.

Details of Main Features

1. Deck system provides system expandability and flexibility on the microscope
The deck system is employed with microscope frames to for insertion to provide application-specific functions such as adding a camera or fluorescence observation. As the IX83 and IX73 permit up to two deck insertions, it is easy for users to set up various types of system configurations depending on their intended purpose.

2. Quick and easy operation using cellSens comprehensive imaging software
Complex, advanced imaging procedures can be simplified with the featured digital control using Olympus’s cellSens comprehensive imaging software, which supports a string of operating steps from image capture, measurement and image analysis through to reporting. This provides researchers with a quick and easy work flow and also contributes to reducing damage to cells during observation.

3. Five new objectives enable exceptional advanced imaging with outstanding optical performance
Five new objectives are being introduced in conjunction with the IX3 series of three research inverted microscopes. The APON100XHOTIRF objective, the first in the world*1 to achieve a numerical aperture (NA)*2 of 1.7, which is suitable for total internal reflection fluorescence*3 microscope (tirf microscope) and has great advantages for observing the movement of proteins or vesicles at the single molecule level. There is also the UCPLFLN20XPH and three more objectives, for example, ideal for observing cell colonies such as iPS cells*4, a topic garnering attention in regenerative medicine field research in recent years.

*1 As of March 31, 2012, based on an investigation by Olympus.
*2 An index used to represent the performance of an objective. Higher numbers indicate greater brightness and offer a higher resolution image.
*3 Fluorescence microscopy utilizing locally illuminated areas produced by total internal reflection of light.
*4 iPS cells refers to “induced pluripotent stem cells,” which are expected by the regenerative medicine field to form various different types of tissue, including those for nerves, muscles and internal organs.

Main Specifications

IX83 specifications

Microscope frame UIS2 optical system
Two-deck system (IX83P2ZF)
One-deck system (IX83P1ZF)
Transmitted light illuminator 12 V 100 W halogen bulb (pre-centered)
High color reproductivity LED light source
Observation tube
Widefield (FN 22)
Widefield tilting binocular
Widefield binocular
Widefield trinocular
Stage Scanning stage with ultrasonic
Mechanical stage with right handle
Right handle stage
Gliding stage
Plain stage
Condenser Motorized long working distance condenser
Deck unit Motorized fluorescence mirror turret
Coded fluorescence mirror turret
Right side port with C-mount
Coded intermediate magnification changer
Fluorescence illuminator L-shape fluorescence illuminator with flyeye lens
L-shape fluorescence illuminator
Fluorescence illuminator

 

IX73 specifications

Microscope frame UIS2 optical system
Two-deck system (IX73P2F)
One-deck system (IX73P1F)
Transmitted light illuminator 12 V 100 W halogen bulb (pre-centered)
High color reproductivity LED light source
Observation tube
Widefield (FN 22)
Widefield tilting binocular
Widefield binocular
Widefield trinocular
Stage Scanning stage with ultrasonic
Right-rear long handle stage
Right-front handle stage
Flexible right-bottom handle stage
Gliding stage
Plain stage
Condenser Motorized long working distance condenser
Long working distance universal condenser
Universal condenser
Mid working distance condenser
Ultra-long working distance condenser
Deck unit Motorized fluorescence mirror turret
Coded fluorescence mirror turret
Right side port with C-mount
Coded intermediate magnification changer
Fluorescence illuminator L-shape fluorescence illuminator with flyeye lens
L-shape fluorescence illuminator
Fluorescence illuminator

 

IX53 specifications

Microscope frame UIS2 optical system
Transparent lamp house 30 W halogen lamp house
100 W halogen lamp house
Observation tube widefield (FN 22) Widefield tilting binocular
Widefield binocular
Stage Right-rear long handle stage
Gliding stage
Plain stage
Condenser Long working distance universal condenser
Universal condenser
Mid working distance condenser
Ultra-long working distance condenser
Deck unit Fluorescence mirror turret
Fluorescence illuminator Fluorescence illuminator

New objectives

Product Name Magnification Numerical Aperture (NA) Working Distance
APON100XHOTIRF 100 1.70 0.08
UCPLFLN20XPH 20 0.7 0.8 to 1.8
UCPLFLN20X 20 0.7 0.8 to 1.8
UPLAPON100XOPH 100 1.40 0.13
PLAPON60XOPH 60 1.42 0.15