📋 Tender Overview
Nikon Corporation Nikon is pleased to announce the release of the next generation confocal microscope series AX and AX R. This new confocal series features a completely re-designed scan head with 8K x 8K resolution1 ultra-high speed resonant scanning and worlds largest2 25 mm field of view3. Combined with a new user-friendly interface and advanced AI-based tools the AXAX R confocal series is designed to enable users to acquire data faster with an unprecedented level of detail and ease.1Galvano scanner.2Among point scanners available on the market as of April 27 2021 according to research conducted by Nikon.3The diameter of the observable image in a microscope.Development BackgroundAs biological research continues to trend toward systems level studies that range from molecules to whole cell populations tissues organoids and even whole organisms needs for microscopy have been similarly evolving. There is an increasing need to acquire data that is higher-resolution both spatially and temporally for a larger range of specimens and with greater throughput.Nikons 10th generation confocal microscope system the AXAX R features improved pixel density sensitivity speed and the worlds largest field of view to meet these needs. A suite of AI-based tools assists users in acquisition processing and analysis while the streamlined user interface ensures ease of use. With its modular design the AXAX R confocal microscope system easily accommodates multi-modal experiments as well as future expansion to meet evolving research directions.Main Features1. Capture more data than ever before with 8K x 8K pixel density and a 25 mm field of viewThe AX and AX R enables 8192 x 8192 pixel high-resolution images to be obtained with the worlds largest field of view 25 mm. Now ultrafine details can be easily captured even for large specimens. This feature is available for both inverted4 and upright5 microscope configurations thereby supporting a wide range of research applications and fields.In addition with the AX Rs high-speed resonant scanner users can acquire up to 720 frames per second at 2048 x 16 pixels. High-speed resonant scanning not only enables dynamic events to be easily captured but also reduces the amount of time required to image large fixed specimens.4ECLIPSE Ti2-E inverted research microscope.5ECLIPSE Ni-E motorized upright research microscope.2. Improved specimen viability for longer time-lapse imagingThe AXAX R features detector units that are twice as sensitive as conventional models6 with a 30 reduction in dark current noise7. With increased sensitivity and reduced noise lower illumination power can be used for imaging even dim specimens minimizing photobleaching and phototoxicity. Combined with high-speed resonant scanning which further decreases exposure time specimen viability is greatly extended enabling extreme long-term time-lapse imaging.6In cases where multi-alkali PMT is selected.7Noise generated by the heat of the sensor itself during long exposures.3. A simplified AI-driven user experienceNikons NIS-Elements C imaging software allows users to easily customize the layout and experiment workflow to suit their needs. The new Autosignal.ai tool simplifies confocal acquisition by automatically determining the optimal illumination and detection settings while Denoise.ai removes shot noise from confocal images to enable clearer images with shorter exposure times. AI-based tools for post-acquisition image processing such as Segment.ai makes segmentation of complex structures more efficient and reliable.Graphical programming tools for both acquisition and analysis provide further flexibility for the user. The optional JOBS module enables complex non-linear experiments with multiple paths and dimensions to be created with ease including conditional workflows where subsequent acquisition parameters are based on real-time analysis results.
