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New Bone Density Image Analysis Software Hits Market
Carestream Molecular Imaging announced worldwide availability of a new Bone Density Software application that performs bone density analysis of small animals in vivo and measures mineral density of specimens in vitro. The software can expedite calculation and reporting for numerous applications ranging from the study of diseases of the bone such as arthritis and osteoporosis to the efficacy of drugs and other treatment options that may affect bone mineral and other densities.
Offered as an optional module for Carestream Molecular Imaging Software used by tens of thousands of researchers worldwide, the new application delivers a sophisticated numerical analysis that goes beyond traditional bone density software tools. It uses a cylindrical model that provides measurements not only of the density of the bone, but also of the bone marrow, the size of the bone and the thickness of the bone wall - all important parameters for tracking and monitoring disease development.
Unlike whole body bone density measurement systems, which often make it difficult to interpret global measurements, Carestream Molecular Imaging’s Bone Density Software utilizes low-dose “soft” x-rays imaged with high spatial resolution - allowing researchers to measure specific segments of single long bones.
The software is designed for use with Carestream Molecular Imaging’s In-Vivo Imaging FX Pro, Multispectral FX and DXS 4000 Pro Systems. The Imaging System FX Pro and Multispectral FX combine high-sensitivity optical molecular imaging and high-resolution digital x-ray to deliver precise anatomical localisation of molecular and cellular biomarkers, while the DXS 4000 produces high-resolution radiographs of medical, life science and material science research specimens. With exceptional resolution of up to 25 line pairs per millimeter without geometric magnification, the DXS 4000 system offers the highest resolution available for digital specimen radiography.
Carestream Molecular Imaging’s Bone Density Software is currently available worldwide.
Circle no. 454
MICROSCOPY & MICROTECHNIQUES
Resolution Beyond the Diffraction Limit
Carl Zeiss launched new systems for optical sectioning during the annual Society for Neuroscience’s Neuroscience 2009 meeting held in Chicago from October 17th to October 21st.
The ELYRA product family features several new superresolution microscopy methods and significantly expands the application of light microscopy by clearly resolving details, which previously could not be imaged by commercially available systems. ELYRA’s high resolution and flexibility will allow scientists to expand their experimental design to enable study of cellular components smaller than the diffraction limit.
The new LSM 780 expands the LSM 7 laser scanning microscopy family. This new system has about double the sensitivity of existing laser scanning microscopes and allows the study of samples with very weak or quickly bleaching fluorescence signals. The improved sensitivity can also be used to collect images at higher speeds.
The third new product, VivaTome, is a new optical sectioning system created for developmental and cell biologists to examine the dynamics of living specimens. The VivaTome is easy to use and provides clear and quantifiable images of cell structures, tissue sections or living organisms. With the launch of the new systems, ELYRA, LSM 780 and VivaTome, Carl Zeiss offers important new tools to allow scientists to expand their research horizons.
Circle no. 456
Cypher Atomic Force Microscope Wins Award
Asylum Research and R&D Magazine have announced that Asylum’s Cypher Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) has been awarded the R&D100 Award for 2009. Cypher is the first completely new small sample AFM/SPM in over a decade and is the world’s highest resolution AFM. The Cypher AFM achieves closed loop atomic resolution using sensors in all three axes, combining the accuracy and control of closed loop with atomic resolution for the most accurate images and measurements possible today. In addition to its superior capabilities for imaging and measurement, Cypher breaks down ease-of-use barriers with its exclusive point-and-click SpotOnTM automated laser and photodetector alignment. Additional unique capabilities include interchangeable light source modules that allow laser spot sizes down to 3um for broad application and scan mode flexibility, and support for high-speed AC imaging (>10x faster) with cantilevers smaller than 10um. The system also includes an integrated enclosure, which provides acoustic and vibration isolation, as well as excellent thermal control for image and measurement stability.
The winning of an R&D100 Award provides a mark of excellence known to industry, government, and academia as proof that the product is one of the most innovative of the year. Winners are selected by an independent judging panel of technology experts and the editors of R&D Magazine. The R&D100 award will be presented to Asylum Research’s development team at an Awards Banquet in Orlando on November 12, 2009. Cypher has also been awarded Laboratory Equipment Magazine’s 2009 Reader’s Choice Award.
Circle no. 457
Microscope Wins R&D 100 Award
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc announced that its Thermo Scientific Nicolet iN10 MX FT-IR microscope has been selected as an R&D 100 award winner by an independent judging panel and editors of R&D Magazine. Recognized as one of the year’s 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace, the Nicolet™ iN™10 MX stood out among the other entries because of its outstanding capability to efficiently address the main challenges associated with infrared microscopy, namely system integration, complexity, accuracy and speed. The novel microscope offers high-speed imaging and increased accuracy while the built-in sampling and analytical procedures ensure ease-of-use.
3D Analysis and Measurement Software
Hitachi High-Technologies has announced the introduction of a new software option for its ever-popular TM-1000 Tabletop microscope. The new 3DView analysis package provides the capability to produce, manipulate and record 3D visualisations of a specimen and make comprehensive measurements of the 3D surface characteristics without the need for specimen tilt.
The range of measurements that can be made using the new software includes height, surface area and roughness measurements (S: Sm: Rlr: Da: Rpm: Rv: Rp: Rms: Ra: Ry: Rz: L). Measurements are obtained using a section profile, utilising current industry-standard methods. Mouse-controlled zoom and rotation of the 3D image is provided, together with the ability to record animations of image manipulations as AVI files so that the 3D graphical information can be easily shared without the need for any special software. All data obtained (measurements, section profiles and images) can be easily exported to other software packages for further analysis.
The new 3DView option further enhances the flexibility of this easy-to-use microscope. Combined with the availability of EDX elemental analysis and application-specific stages (heating/cooling, tensile/compression, ano-manipulators, tilt/rotation with IR Chamberscope) the TM-1000 can offer powerful flexibility and functionality to many microscopy facilities.
Circle no. 455
Infrared microscopes currently require attachment to an external infrared spectrometer, with the spectrometer’s excitation energy redirected through the microscope. The Nicolet iN10 MX uniquely incorporates all of the spectrometer’s infrared optics in a single, integrated system, providing much higher optical efficiency for improved sampling, enabling use of a room temperature infrared detector and reducing bench space.
In addition, the Nicolet iN10 MX eliminates the need for specialist training in microscopy or spectroscopy as, for the first time, several assisted sampling and analytical procedures are built into the microscope’s optical operation and software. The pioneering FT-IR microscope enables the analysis of samples as small as three to four microns, allowing for single point analyses as well as mapping or chemical imaging analyses. Conventional infrared microscopes can only analyse samples that are a minimum of ten microns.
The Nicolet iN10 MX surpasses its competitors by facilitating the acquisition of chemical maps at a considerably faster rate. With the standard detector configuration, it is possible to map a 1.2 x 1.2mm area in less than 4.5 minutes, while with an additional imaging detector the system can scan the same area in only 20 seconds. This is more than ten times the speed of conventional image mapping techniques.
Circle no. 458
Smart Long Wave Infrared Camera
Smart cameras come to the world of infrared imaging with the new Xenics Gobi-384 compact LWIR camera from Stemmer Imaging. The affordable Gobi-384 features a unique on-board digital signal processor for improved real-time image processing. The Gobi offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of frame rate, user interface and temperature range, enabling the user to adapt it to various industrial settings and tasks.
This compact smart camera can be readily fitted into industrial environments for process control and used as an IP network camera or directly connected to a PC or video monitor. Other applications include R & D and medical imaging.
Operating in the 8-14 micron wavelength range, the Gobi-384 camera can detect temperature differences as small as 0.05˚C. The 384 x 288 pixel uncooled a-Si microbolometer detector array offers a 44% higher pixel count than other systems based on the same detector technology. The Gobi-384 is fully compatible with Thermography Studio™ software for dynamic analysis and recording. Thermography Studio features a library of powerful tools that enable the sophisticated analysis of thermal behavior for a wide range of objects and materials.
The camera offers flexibility of control and interfacing. It has both Ethernet (TCIP/IP) and CameraLink interfaces. A frame rate of up to 50 fps can be achieved over a a standard 100 Mbit Ethernet connection. A software development kit supporting C++, Visual Basic, LabView or Linux allows flexible programming in an open architecture. The Xeneth Advanced GUI allows live image view, storing of digital images and movies, digital zoom and selection of a region of interest, as well as display of data such as image histograms and line profiles.
Circle no. 459
LAB ASIA - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009 - MICROSCOPY & MICROTECHNIQUES
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