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Sensitivity is important for fluorescence applications, to enable the capture of a greater number of photons and thus producing a clear and noise-free image. The image on the left is noisy, whereas sample structures are well defined in the right image
disease. In these types of application where live samples are used, light levels must be kept to a minimum to prevent any photo-damage to the cells. Particularly in fluorescence microscopy, the sensor may need to detect extremely small changes in light levels from samples stained with fluorescence probes. In addition, the camera must be capable of
capturing fast-moving live processes. Tis is technically challenging as fast events require short exposure times, but this in turn means fewer photons of light can be captured – hence cameras suitable for scientific research combine high sensitivity with careful electronic design to minimise noise sources that could otherwise drown out the sample’s signal. In September, Hamamatsu
we can expect them to reach a similar level of performance in about three years.’ In applications with more standard
Scientific CMOS
technology is fast approaching sensitivity levels of EMCCD sensors
launched a new EMCCD camera, the ImagEM X2-1K, which can deliver up to 314 images per second. It was designed for a range of applications, from genetics studies (capturing luminescence) through to the detection of fast events such as neuronal activity through calcium reporters. It is capable of imaging in ultra-low light conditions of fewer than 10 photons per pixel between the sample and background. ‘Te collected photons are converted into photoelectrons and are multiplied through impact ionisation. Tis analogue signal is then digitised and displayed as an image by the PC,’ explained Dr Ruediger Bader, sales engineer at Hamamatsu Photonics UK.
Affordable high performance sCMOS technology is fast approaching sensitivity levels of EMCCD sensors, according to Giacobone: ‘For extremely low light level imaging, for example, EMCCD is still the go-to technology, but the rapidly evolving sCMOS is challenging this. Improving year-on-year,
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requirements CMOS sensors are more cost-effective than the CCD, so camera manufacturers are increasingly incorporating the former into cameras, and employing correction technologies to boost the sensitivity and reduce noise. Tis approach retains the image quality of traditional CCD cameras while providing substantial cost savings: ‘What is happening is that you take a sensor that is cheaper to produce, and build upon it using clever technologies, creating images suitable for scientific analysis,’ Giacobone pointed out. ‘Tis is part of the overall trend, where soſtware is used to enhance cheaper sensors, in
order to generate a higher quality image.’ For example, the latest CMOS camera from
Olympus, which was released in November, fits in the ‘affordable high performance’ category, combining the cost benefits and faster frame rates of CMOS with more sensitive and noiseless images, improving image quality at lower cost. To increase sensitivity as well as achieve
speeds up to 32 frames per second, the SC50 contains a light guide feature which focuses the photons directly onto the most sensitive part of the sensor, instead of them being scattered within the chip material. In addition, the Smart Image Averaging soſtware addresses noise by taking a series of pictures and isolating the noise from the signal, using a smart algorithm to detect sample movement and temporarily halt the averaging process, avoiding artefacts while moving and focusing on the sample.
Large chips, large field-of-view Another reason why sCMOS sensors are in demand in the scientific sector is that they can
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Matrox Design Assistant 4 is an integrated development environment that lets you easily, and quickly, solve vision applications by constructing flowcharts instead of writing program code.
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