Multimodal live cell imaging system for super-resolution, confocal, widefield and high-throughput microscopy
The Zeiss Cell Discoverer 7 is a closed box, turn-key imaging system that utilizes both LED and confocal laser scanning technologies with fluorescence excitation from UV to far red. It is a versatile system that allows both multiplexed screening applications as well as multi-dimensional analysis in a variety of sample contexts and formats.
| Make/model | Zeiss Cell Discoverer 7 automated microscope |
|---|---|
| Details | The Zeiss Cell Discoverer 7 is a fully integrated, automated imaging system capable of multi-format, high-throughput, and multi-dimensional super-resolved confocal analysis of samples from live cells to small model organisms. It has full environmental control for live cell imaging and is suitable for multiplexed screening applications, rapid time lapse recordings and also photomanipulation assays. |
| Facility | Bioimaging Research Hub |
| School | School of Biosciences |
The Cell Discoverer 7 microscope has motorised auto-focus, auto-corrective objectives that are capable of a range of magnifications from 2.5x to 100x (see below). It has 7 LED excitation channels, and 4 laser lines and is equipped with a Zeiss Axiocam 712 monochrome CMOS camera and the LSM900 series confocal scanhead. The latter incorporates 2 GaAsP detectors and the Airyscan2 detector capable of super resolution imaging – see below.
The system has full environmental control with pipetting port for on-axis sample delivery and has intelligent multi-format imaging capability (i.e., supports slides, chamber slides, dishes, plates etc.) The microscope is operated via the Zen software suite which also includes modules for 3D/4D reconstruction and animation; spectral scanning; analysis and quantification of colocalisation; spectral unmixing and photobleaching (FRAP, FRET), deconvolution and machine learning.
Objectives
The system has the following magnifications: 2.5x, 5x, 10x, 20x, 25x, 40x, 50x, 100x
LED excitation
LED excitation at 385nm, 420nm, 470nm, 511nm, 567nm, 590nm, 625nm
Laser excitation
Laser lines at 405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 640nm
Detectors
- Zeiss Axiocam 712 monochrome CMOS camera
- Zeiss LSM900 confocal scanhead with 2 GaAsP detectors plus the Airyscan2 detector which provides a spatial resolution 1.7x beyond diffraction limit in x, y and z and 8x improvement in SNR.
Internal users can book the equipment using the shared Outlook calendar ‘BIOSI - E/0.03 - Confocal/Lightsheet Microscopy’.
Find out how to book equipment through Outlook.
The booking will be reviewed and then accepted by a member of Bioimaging Research Hub staff or an alternative time/date proposed.
Please keep to your allotted booking time. You will be charged for the time that you have reserved the instrument for, irrespective of usage. The minimum booking time is 1 hour.
Cancellations should be made at least 24 hours in advance. If you fail to turn up for a booking you will be charged.
Please contact Bioimaging Hub for details of costs - Bioimaginghub@cardiff.ac.uk
All users must be trained and registered by Bioimaging Hub staff before using any of the instruments within the Hub.
To comply with Cardiff University Health and Safety Policy, individuals must receive appropriate training before using any of the imaging equipment within the Bioimaging Research Hub and be aware of the risks involved in its use.
Furthermore, for use of the confocal laser scanning microscopes, users must:
- Receive training from a member of Bioimaging Research Hub staff (indirect training from other users will not be sufficient).
- Read and understand the Zeiss CD7 Risk Assessment.
- Complete a Registration of Laser Worker form.
If top-up training is required, please notify Hub staff when making a booking and this can be provided prior to your planned session.
All users of the Bioimaging Research Hub are expected to observe the following. If they fail to comply they will lose their access rights:
- Food and drink are not permitted within the facility.
- All waste material (including laboratory gloves) should be properly disposed of outside of the facility – we are not responsible for your waste.
- Coats and bags when left on the floor in a low light environment represent a tripping hazard. Either hang them on the internal door hooks or, better still, do not bring them into the imaging suites.
- Do not use any equipment that you have not been properly trained for. All users should familiarise themselves with the appropriate risk assessments for the procedures being undertaken.
- All USB data storage devices must be virus checked before plugging them into any of our systems.
- All systems should be correctly powered down at the end of your session and usage correctly logged in the database.
Get in touch
Dr Anthony J Hayes
- hayesaj@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 6611
Location
Sir Martin Evans Building
Museum Avenue
CF10 3AX