At cNOM, we offer access to multiple unique, custom-built optical microscopes and commercial systems. We are also continuously developing new optical systems.
Custom-built, unique optical microscopes
STED+ microscope (BSL2)
Multimodal custom-built laser scanning microscope (Abberior Instruments) for simultaneous:
- 3D-t multi-channel confocal imaging
- simultaneously observe location of 4-8 fluorescently labelled structures with 200 nm xy resolution
- super-resolution STED microscopy
- improve resolution down to 50 nm for 2 fluorescently labelled structures
- FCS – fluorescence correlation spectroscopy
- measure size and concentration of diffusing fluorescent objects
- multi-photon excitation
- improve in-depth imaging of tissues and thick samples
- spectral imaging and FLIM – fluorescence lifetime imaging
- sense the local chemical environment in the sample (pH, polarity, concentration of specific ions, viscosity, temperature, …)
- reflectance microscopy
- track scattering objects in the sample
This microscope enables automated and live-cell microscopy, and can be modified with intelligent content-aware selection of (sub)regions of interest based on real-time analysis of measurements.
The optical setup is modular and can accommodate additional optical elements, light sources and detectors.
Commercial microscopes and equipment
Syglass VR
Software and VR headset for visualisation of 3D and 3Dt microscopy images during the imaging session, in post-processing, and for dissemination.
In development (available soon)
SIM+ microscope (BSL2)
A unique wide-field fluorescence microscope is being built in cNOM, combining
- super-resolution SIM
- quickly acquire large 3-color fields-of-view – 12x faster than laser scanning microscopes
- 2.5D projection imaging
- acquire one-shot maximum projection images up to 13 μm into the sample – 10x faster than normal 3D stack acquisition
- label-free QPI – quantitative phase imaging
- map refractive index in the sample with confocal resolution
The system is built on 20x objective and uses “super-resolution” to achieve confocal resolution at significantly faster speeds at larger field-of-view as a 60x wi scanning confocal microscope. It also integrates automated microscopy and live-cell microscopy.
The optical setup is modular and can accommodate additional optical elements, light sources and detectors.
Available approximately in the 2nd half of 2026.
Multi-bench microscope (BSL2)
3+1 fully-automated high-throughput confocal/STED laser-scanning microscopes (Abberior Instruments and cNOM). A unique hardware-sharing approach is being demonstrated, with 4 stations sharing one STED excitation laser, and 2 stations sharing all excitation lasers and detectors.
Three out of four stations will be available approximately in the 2nd half of 2026.
The fourth station, where sharing of all excitation lasers and detectors with third station will be demonstrated, is expected to be available in the 1st half of 2027.
