Axon GenePix^® 4300A & 4400A Scanners

Setting The Standard For High Resolution, High Uniformity, and Sample Type Flexibility

The Axon GenePix^® family of microarray scanners has long been hailed as the industry leader in performance, features and ease-of-use. Now, the Axon GenePix 4300A & 4400A scanners set even higher standards for microarray instrumentation with their powerful set of new and enhanced features designed for unsurpassed resolution, superior performance, and multispectral imaging.

Choosing Your GenePix^® Scanner

Many of the performance and features of the GenePix^® systems are similar, so check the Axon GenePix Scanner Comparison Table to compare the key differences.

New

• 2.5µm resolution scanning for the latest generation of high density arrays
• Improved performance from the industry-leader in quality
• Four-color system for multispectral imaging applications
• 16-position emission filter wheel for enhanced flexibility
• Complete software analysis package included with every scanner

Features

Axon GenePix^® Scanner Innovation

As the industry's premier microarray scanner manufacturer, MDS Analytical Technologies has established an exceptional reputation with our Axon GenePix microarray scanning systems. We have developed the Axon GenePix 4300A and 4400A microarray scanners using a combination of input from academic leaders in the field of microarray research and our own 25 years of experience in building high-precision, low-noise detection systems. Additionally, the Axon GenePix 4300A and 4400A scanners have the same elegant, efficient and functional design our customers have come to expect from our award-winning team.

These scanners have the ideal balance of powerful and flexible features coupled with the ease-of-use and accessibility that have made the Axon GenePix family the microarray industry's instruments of choice. All Axon GenePix scanners also include one license of Axon GenePix Pro image acquisition and analysis software, the benchmark tool for the acquisition and analysis of microarray images. Additional GenePix Pro and Acuity microarray informatics software licenses may also be purchased with the scanner. In concert with the performance of the Axon GenePix scanners, you can always rely on the fast, friendly and professional service from our experienced team of sales and technical support personnel.

A Roche-Nimblegen HD2 array scanned at 2.5µm resolution on an Axon GenePix 4400A microarray scanner. Features dimensions are 13µm x 13µm.

Scanning Resolution & Platform Flexibility

The Axon GenePix^® 4400A scanner is capable of scanning at a user-defined optical pixel resolution between 2.5µm — 100µm per pixel, while the Axon GenePix 4300A scanner has a maximum resolution of 5µm per pixel that can be upgraded to 2.5µm at any time. Both scanners allow you to do a 40-micron Preview Scan to obtain a reference image and to set the optimal image sensitivity settings. As with all Axon GenePix systems, the Axon GenePix 4300A and 4400A microarray scanners directly image the array surface, rather than passing the lasers through the substrate. This direct scanning enables you to use any type of microarray substrate, whether transparent, translucent, or even opaque.

Four Color Scanning

The Axon GenePix 4300A and 4400A scanners can house up to four lasers in each instrument. The solid-state diode and gas lasers are internally installed into one compact bench-top unit. This laser flexibility allows you to choose from a broad choice of fluorophores that includes the traditional Cy™3 and Cy™5 dyes, as well as alternatives such as fluorescein, GFP, Texas Red or the Alexa Fluor® dyes.

Unparalleled Signal-to-Noise Performance

In all of our Axon GenePix scanners we employ our industry-leading low-noise digitization technology. This technology when used in combination with our ultra-sensitive PMT detectors offers a substantially greater sensitivity than white-light and CCD systems—5 or 10 times higher signal-to-noise (SNR) values, as predicted by theory and measured in practice. These technologies allow you to use lower PMT settings, avoiding saturated pixels, and resulting in greater SNR values—giving you more confidence in your subsequent higher-order microarray analyses. The unparalleled sensitivity also enables the use of lower laser power settings, which significantly reduces any perceived degradation of your dyes.

Laser Power Attenuation

A gradient neutral density filter allows you to attenuate laser transmission between 5-100% in 1% increments, providing you with maximum flexibility in optimizing your channel intensities. This laser attenuation also helps reduce photobleaching of sensitive samples.

Remarkably Compact

With a footprint of 43 x 65 cm, the unit is still compact enough to fit on a bench top ensuring space economy. Since all lasers are internally installed, there are no separate, space-consuming Argon or Krypton ion lasers and cooling systems to accommodate.

Designed for High Duty-Cycle Usage

The Axon GenePix 4300A and 4400A scanners are ideal for use in high-volume laboratories and microarray core facilities in academic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical environments. Improved high duty-cycle motors ensure maximum translation and focus motor lifetime. Component weights and balances are designed to minimize vibration and optimize heat dissipation. All lasers undergo extensive quality control testing procedures by both the manufacturer and MDS Analytical Technologies.

User-Accessible Emission Filter Wheel

Under an easy-access panel on the front of both the Axon GenePix 4300A and 4400A systems is a 16-position, user-configurable emission filter wheel. Each available laser kit utilizes a unique position, providing you with a minimum of 12 open filter positions to install the standard catalog emission filter of your choosing, whether you purchase them from MDS Analytical Technologies, or any other filter manufacturer. This added benefit of the Axon GenePix 4300A and 4400A systems enables an even greater degree of flexibility in dye selection.

Upgrades and Service

All Axon GenePix microarray scanner purchases include a standard one-year factory service warranty. Service Agreements to extend the warranty coverage are available at the time of purchase or at any time before warranty expires. Unlimited Ph.D.-level telephone and email technical support is included at no charge.

Enhanced Performance Features

Extremely low values for rotational non-uniformity in the Axon GenePix 4300A and 4400A scanners of less than ±4% are achieved by the implementation of a six-point slide-flattening slide holder. Additionally all lasers have on-the-fly intensity correction circuitry to compensate for minor laser fluctuations. The scan time per channel has also been decreased to approximately four minutes (full size image at 10 µm scan resolution). These enhancements help to improve the Axon GenePix scanners' ability to confidently scan higher density arrays.

Specifications

General

Performance

Lasers

Standard Configuration

• Red and green two-color system for use with popular Alexa Fluor® and CyDyes™
• Solid-state diode or diode-pumped continuous-wave lasers
• Red laser: 635 nm centered wavelength
• Green laser: 532 nm centered wavelength

Optional lasers

Blue and Yellow laser installations are also available for a total of four internally-installed lasers.

Blue Laser

• Premier solid-state blue continuous-wave laser
• Miniature size permits internal installation (dimensions are 125 x 70 mm)
• Extreme power stability and lifetime
• 488 nm centered wavelength

Yellow Laser

• Compact HeNe continuous-wave gas laser
• Well-established technology known for durability and long life
• 594 nm centered wavelength

Physical Characteristics

Safety Regulatory Standards

Conforms to the following European directives:

Low Voltage Directive 73 / 23 / EEC as amended by 93/68/EEC, CE Marking Directive EMC Directive 89 / 336 / EEC as amended by EMC Directive 92/31/EEC EMC

Safety:

IEC 1010-1 (TUV Rheinland) Ref. N. 30780762.001 NRTL (US) Listing to UL61001-1:2004 and Canada Certification to CAN/CSA22.2 No 61010-1:2004 EN 60825-1: 1993 +A1:1997 + A2:2001 (Laser Safety) Complies with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11

EMC:

EN 61326-1 w/A1:1998 + A2:2001 + A3:2003 (Emissions Class A and Immunity). US Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 15 subpart B for a Class A Device.

Year Mark First Applied: 2008

Software

The Axon GenePix^® 4300A and 4400A both include one license of GenePix Pro, the industry-leading microarray image acquisition and first-pass analysis software. Additional licenses of GenePix Pro or licenses of Acuity®, a powerful and scalable database, statistical and data visualization software package, may be purchased at the time of scanner purchase, or at any time after purchase.

GenePix^® Pro 7 Software:

• Operates on 32- or 64-bit Windows XP or Windows Vista
• Create multiple independent scan and analysis areas per array slide
• Integrated package for one-step image acquisition and analysis
• Industry-standard Axon file formats GenePix^® Array List (GAL) and GenePix Results (GPR) files
• Find and analyze features of any shape—elliptical, square, and arbitrary irregular
• Additional metrics and visualization tools for quality control analysis
• Export results as MAGE-ML files
• Seamlessly export results to Acuity software database
• Widely acclaimed for its ease-of-use and as the most popular microarray analysis software available

Acuity:

• Fast, scalable SQL database for individual or enterprise-level users
• Comprehensive statistical analysis, normalization, clustering and visualization features
• Analysis audit trail
• No annual license fees

See the Acuity page for complete information.

Computer Requirements

The Axon GenePix^® system is fully functional with the Minimum Computer Requirements. However, satisfactory performance depends on the size of the files you will generate. The RAM and hard disk configuration is the most critical. If you plan to scan areas smaller than a full slide, or to scan regularly at 5 µm resolution, the Minimum requirements will provide satisfactory performance of all GenePix Pro features. However, if you plan to scan full slides at 2.5 µm, or if you plan to run other applications simultaneously, we strongly suggest the Recommended configuration. Computer workstations purchased from MDS Analytical Technologies will meet or exceed the Recommended configuration.

Computer — Minimum

• IBM-compatible computer with an Intel Pentium "Dual Core" processor 1.6 GHz or faster
• Operating systems:
  • 4300A: Windows XP or Vista 32-bit edition operating system
  • 4400A: Windows XP or Vista 64-bit edition operating system
• Memory requirements: 4GB RAM
• 160 GB hard drive (for image storage)
• Integrated Video Card
• Optical drive with CD read and write capabilities (CD-RW)
• At least 2 free USB port or network connections (one for the USB software protection key*, and one for the scanner)
• 1280 x 1024 display
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher

Computer — Recommended

• IBM-compatible computer with an Intel "Quad Core" processor 1.8 GHz or faster
• Windows XP or Vista 64-bit edition operating system
• 8 GB RAM or more
• Dedicated Video Card 256MB or greater
• 250 GB hard drive (for image storage)
• Optical Drive with DVD and CD read and write capabilities (DVD+/-RW)
• At least 2 free USB port or network connections (one for the USB software protection key*, and one for the scanner)
• Internet access (for faster version updates and troubleshooting)
• 1280 x 1024 display system with 16M colors
• Internet Explorer 7

*If your computer does not have a free USB port but has a network connection you can specify a network hardware protection key when ordering GenePix Pro software.

Configurations

Standard two-color configuration:

• Single-slide manual loader
• 635 nm solid-state laser and red emission filter, installed
• 532 nm solid-state laser and green emission filter, installed
• Filter mounting rings (15) and filter tool, included

Options:

• 488 nm solid-state InGaAs laser and blue emission filter, installed
• 594 nm HeNe fiber-coupled ion laser and yellow emission filter, installed

Additional emission filters:

• See emission filters table or speak to our sales personnel. If not listed in the table, custom-made filters can be ordered directly from a filter supplier, such as Chroma, Omega Optical, or Semrock. Specify 12.5 mm mounted filters, the laser excitation source and indicate that it will be used with an Axon GenePix scanner from MDS Analytical Technologies.

Ordering Information

Axon GenePix^® 4300A or 4400A

Includes one license of industry-leading GenePix^® Pro image acquisition and analysis software. Additional GenePix Pro and Acuity microarray informatics software licenses may also be purchased with the scanner.

Available in multiple configurations. All packages include the Axon GenePix scanner, USB and power cables, and unlimited technical support.

Available with a fully configured Dell computer with Axon GenePix hardware and GenePix Pro / Acuity^® software installed. This option is highly recommended.

Alexa Fluor® is a registered trademark of Molecular Probes. CyDyes™ is a trademark of GE Healthcare, Ltd.