AgileOptix Spinning Disk Confocal Technology

Powerful solid-state light engine, custom optics, scientific CMOS sensor, and the ability to change between five different disk geometries

AgileOptix spinning disk confocal microscopy

Our proprietary AgileOptix™ Spinning Disk Technology is a microscopy innovation designed to run more complex, physiologically-relevant cellular models including 3D spheroids, tissues, live-cell assays, and whole organisms. This technology combines the clarity of confocal imaging with the throughput and well-known robustness of the ImageXpress® Confocal systems.

Unlike other spinning disk confocal technologies used for high-content screening, AgileOptix technology offers the ability to adapt disk geometries to meet your unique assay requirements. It is one of the few technologies on the market that includes a unique dual disk configuration with both pinholes or slits to accommodate high-throughput applications.

Widefield
Widefield
Confocal image
Confocal

 

 

Multiple confocal disk configurations for optimized assay performance

AgileOptix Spinning Disk Technology includes simple, user-defined configurations to ensure maximum assay performance for both confocal and widefield imaging. Multiple confocal disk geometries are available including pinhole and slit configurations.

Spinning disk geometry 60 µm pinhole
(single disk)
60 µm dual disk
with 50 µm slit
60 µm dual disk
with 42 µm pinhole
High-sensitivity detection
 
 
 
Fast acquisition
 
 
 
>3 log dynamic range†
 
 
 
Widefield mode for flat biology
 
 
 
Most confocal applications
 
 
 
Highest resolution imaging    
 
High-throughput applications  
 
 

*Powered by our highly responsive sCMOS sensor and advanced solid state light source.

 


 

How spinning disk confocal technology works

One aspect of AgileOptix technology is a spinning disk light path, which includes a very bright solid state light engine. Excitation light passes through a rapidly spinning disk with symmetrically placed spirals of pinholes or slits. These pinholes or slits split the illumination light into multiple beams that scan the fluorescent sample. Emission light from the sample then passes back through the confocal disk and is then directed via a dichroic beamsplitter through the emission filter to a high-sensitivity scientific CMOS camera.

 


 

Optimize out-of-focus light or “haze” that can skew image analysis

AgileOptix spinning disk technology optimized for high resolution, tissue penetrance, and high throughput

 

Confocal image
Confocal image

 

 

 

 

Deep tissue penetrating, confocal disk module

Specialized deep tissue penetrating, confocal disk module, combined with a laser light source, improves light penetrance for deeper tissue penetration, resulting in sharper images with improved resolution when imaging thick tissue samples†.

 

  • Improve suppression of out-of-focus light
  • Reduce haze (pinhole crosstalk)
  • Penetrate deeper into thick tissue samples for sharper images

 

Standard spinning disk
Deep tissue penetrating, confocal tissue module
Deep tissue penetrating, confocal tissue module
Confocal Tissue Module

Images taken at the same exposure

Deep tissue penetrating, confocal disk module
60 micron Pinhole Confocal Module
60 micron pinhole confocal module

**Data and images were acquired during development using customer samples. Results may vary. Highlighted features’ price, time to deliver, and specifications will vary based on mutually agreed technical requirements. Solution requirements may cause adjustment to standard performance.

 

 

Molecular Devices can successfully tailor the ImageXpress Confocal system to include customized software and hardware including the features described herein, as well as integration of other lab components such as incubators, liquid handlers, and robotics for a fully automated work cell. Check out our new Organoid Innovation Center where we showcase these cutting-edge technologies with novel 3D biology methods to address key challenges of scaling complex 3D biology.

Sale is subject to our Custom Product Purchase Terms available at www.moleculardevices.com/custom-products-purchase-terms.


 

  • Organoid Innovation Center

    Organoid Innovation Center

    Our lab automation solutions include scientists and engineers who can customize our instruments, as well as automate entire workflows to meet the specific needs of your assay, method, or protocol. From incubators, liquid handlers, and robotics to customized software and hardware—and with over 35 years of experience in the life science industry—you can count on us to deliver quality products and provide worldwide support.

    Learn more about how robotics-driven automation workcells and AI-based image analysis can help you develop an efficient, end-to-end workflow for your organoid development process.

    3D Cell Models

    3D Cell Models

    3D cell cultures offer the advantage of closely recapitulating aspects of human tissues including the architecture, cell organization, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and more physiologically-relevant diffusion characteristics. Utilization of 3D cellular assays adds value to research and screening campaigns, spanning the translational gap between 2D cell cultures and whole-animal models. By reproducing important parameters of the in vivo environment, 3D models can provide unique insight into the behavior of stem cells and developing tissues in vitro.

    Read More 

  • Improve sensitivity, speed, and assay quality

    Complex Biological Assays

    Improve sensitivity, speed, and assay quality for complex biological assays

    Using a high-power laser light source, the system significantly increases light throughput to the sample, which results in brighter images, increased sensitivity, and increased assay throughput. The impact is especially important for the assays where sensitivity and imaging time are the limiting factors.

    Read application note 

    Organoids

    Organoids

    Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) multi-cellular microtissues that are designed to closely mimic the complex structure and functionality of human organs. Organoids typically consist of a co-culture of cells which demonstrate a high order of self-assembly to allow for an even better representation of complex in vivo cell responses and interactions, as compared to traditional 2D cell cultures.

    Learn More 

Latest Resources

Resources for AgileOptix Spinning Disk Confocal Technology

Videos & Webinars

Automation of the organ-on-a-chip assay: automated culture, imaging and analysis of angiogenesis

Automation of the organ-on-a-chip assay: automated culture, imaging and analysis of angiogenesis

Challenges for drug screening of complex biological systems

Challenges for drug screening of complex biological systems

3D Tissue Models Imaging and Automation of Organ-On-A-Chip

3D Tissue Models Imaging and Automation of Organ-On-A-Chip

SLAS Dublin 2022

SLAS Dublin 2022

Introduction to the Organoid Innovation Center and ImageXpress Confocal HT.ai system

Introduction to the Organoid Innovation Center and ImageXpress Confocal HT.ai system

Water Immersion Objectives & High-Content Imaging

Gain deeper insights into cellular 3D structures with water immersion objectives