Andor Launches The World’s First Super-Resolution Microscopy Camera
Belfast, Northern Ireland, 5th July 2017 – Andor Technology (Andor), an Oxford Instruments company and world leader in scientific imaging and spectroscopy solutions, today announced the launch of a new super-resolution microscopy technology, available on single photon sensitive iXon EMCCD cameras. ‘SRRF-Stream’ unlocks real time super resolution fluorescence microscopy on most modern microscopes, using conventional fluorophores at low illumination intensities, thus making it highly compatible with live cell imaging. A resolution improvement from 2- to 6-fold (50-150nm final resolution) can be expected for most datasets.
Adopting the recently developed SRRF (pronounced ‘Surf’) technology from the lab of Dr Ricardo Henriques, Quantitative Imaging and Nanobiophysics Group, University College London (UCL), and working in close collaboration with Dr Henriques, Andor have enhanced the technology to run optimally on iXon EMCCD cameras. Andor is also expert in advanced GPU processing optimization techniques, employed in this instance to execute the SRRF algorithm up to 30x faster than the existing ImageJ-based post processing implementation of SRRF. This significant acceleration enables workflow enhancement, by allowing data acquisition and SRRF processing to operate in parallel. Since processing is faster than the camera can acquire data, SRRF-Stream now accomplishes real time super-resolution, with large field of view super-resolution images. An EMCCD full field of view super-resolved image can be readily generated at a rate of > 1 Hz, easily pushing up to > 10 Hz through use of smaller ROI sizes. Regarding image acquisition software, SRRF-Stream is readily available to SDK users and has also been made compatible with the MicroManager (Open Imaging) open source microscopy software platform.
Dr Colin Coates, Andor’s Imaging Product Manager, said; “Andor has a shared vision with that of the Henriques lab, which is to make super-resolution microscopy widely and easily accessible to all. SRRF-Stream makes a significant leap in that direction, working extremely well with standard widefield, TIRF and spinning disk confocal modalities. The combination of SRRF-Stream and Andor’s recently release iXon Life EMCCD represents a highly cost-effective way to unlock powerful super-resolution from existing conventional fluorescence microscopes.”
Dr Ricardo Henriques commented; “We are delighted to partner with Andor in the SRRF-Stream development. We have received a lot of very positive comments about SRRF due to the fact that it can achieve remarkable resolution without requiring specialized photo-switchable fluorophores, and with light levels of approximately 106 times lower than that required by standard localisation-based super-resolution techniques. We are extremely excited to see SRRF-Stream operating in real time, rather than as post-processing. Having thoroughly tested SRRF-Stream in our own lab, we are very impressed by both the workflow and also the ability to now utilise larger fields of view for live cell super-resolution. By seamlessly combining the SRRF algorithm with the high-performance of the iXon, we have accomplished the world’s first super-resolution camera for fluorescence microscopy.”
About Andor
Andor is a global leader in the pioneering and manufacturing of high performance scientific imaging cameras, spectroscopy solutions and microscopy systems for research and OEM markets. Andor has been innovating the photonics industry for over 20 years and continues to set the standard for high performance light measuring solutions, enabling its customers to break new ground by performing light measurements previously considered impossible. Andor’s digital cameras, are allowing scientists around the world to measure light down to a single photon and capture events occurring within 1 billionth of a second.
Andor now has over 400 staff across 16 offices worldwide, distributing products to over 10,000 customers in 55 countries. Andor’s products are used in a wide range of applications including medical research to further the understanding of heart disease, cancer and neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Andor also has applications for forensic science and astronomy. Through continuous dialogue with customers and strong teamwork, Andor continues to innovate ground-breaking products that improve the world in which we live.
About Oxford Instruments plc
Oxford Instruments designs, supplies and supports high-technology tools and systems with a focus on research and industrial applications. Innovation has been the driving force behind Oxford Instruments' growth and success for over 50 years, and its strategy is to effect the successful commercialisation of these ideas by bringing them to market in a timely and customer-focused fashion.
The first technology business to be spun out from Oxford University, Oxford Instruments is now a global company with over 2000 staff worldwide. Its objective is to be the leading provider of new generation tools and systems for the research and industrial sectors with a focus on nanotechnology. Its key market sectors include nano-fabrication and nano-materials. The company’s strategy is to expand the business into the life sciences arena, where nanotechnology and biotechnology intersect.
This involves the combination of core technologies in areas such as low temperature, high magnetic field and ultra high vacuum environments; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; x-ray, electron, laser and optical based metrology; atomic force microscopy; optical imaging; advanced growth, deposition and etching.
Oxford Instruments aims to pursue responsible development and deeper understanding of our world through science and technology. Its products, expertise, and ideas address global issues such as energy, environment, security and health.
Adopting the recently developed SRRF (pronounced ‘Surf’) technology from the lab of Dr Ricardo Henriques, Quantitative Imaging and Nanobiophysics Group, University College London (UCL), and working in close collaboration with Dr Henriques, Andor have enhanced the technology to run optimally on iXon EMCCD cameras. Andor is also expert in advanced GPU processing optimization techniques, employed in this instance to execute the SRRF algorithm up to 30x faster than the existing ImageJ-based post processing implementation of SRRF. This significant acceleration enables workflow enhancement, by allowing data acquisition and SRRF processing to operate in parallel. Since processing is faster than the camera can acquire data, SRRF-Stream now accomplishes real time super-resolution, with large field of view super-resolution images. An EMCCD full field of view super-resolved image can be readily generated at a rate of > 1 Hz, easily pushing up to > 10 Hz through use of smaller ROI sizes. Regarding image acquisition software, SRRF-Stream is readily available to SDK users and has also been made compatible with the MicroManager (Open Imaging) open source microscopy software platform.
Dr Colin Coates, Andor’s Imaging Product Manager, said; “Andor has a shared vision with that of the Henriques lab, which is to make super-resolution microscopy widely and easily accessible to all. SRRF-Stream makes a significant leap in that direction, working extremely well with standard widefield, TIRF and spinning disk confocal modalities. The combination of SRRF-Stream and Andor’s recently release iXon Life EMCCD represents a highly cost-effective way to unlock powerful super-resolution from existing conventional fluorescence microscopes.”
Dr Ricardo Henriques commented; “We are delighted to partner with Andor in the SRRF-Stream development. We have received a lot of very positive comments about SRRF due to the fact that it can achieve remarkable resolution without requiring specialized photo-switchable fluorophores, and with light levels of approximately 106 times lower than that required by standard localisation-based super-resolution techniques. We are extremely excited to see SRRF-Stream operating in real time, rather than as post-processing. Having thoroughly tested SRRF-Stream in our own lab, we are very impressed by both the workflow and also the ability to now utilise larger fields of view for live cell super-resolution. By seamlessly combining the SRRF algorithm with the high-performance of the iXon, we have accomplished the world’s first super-resolution camera for fluorescence microscopy.”
About Andor
Andor is a global leader in the pioneering and manufacturing of high performance scientific imaging cameras, spectroscopy solutions and microscopy systems for research and OEM markets. Andor has been innovating the photonics industry for over 20 years and continues to set the standard for high performance light measuring solutions, enabling its customers to break new ground by performing light measurements previously considered impossible. Andor’s digital cameras, are allowing scientists around the world to measure light down to a single photon and capture events occurring within 1 billionth of a second.
Andor now has over 400 staff across 16 offices worldwide, distributing products to over 10,000 customers in 55 countries. Andor’s products are used in a wide range of applications including medical research to further the understanding of heart disease, cancer and neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Andor also has applications for forensic science and astronomy. Through continuous dialogue with customers and strong teamwork, Andor continues to innovate ground-breaking products that improve the world in which we live.
About Oxford Instruments plc
Oxford Instruments designs, supplies and supports high-technology tools and systems with a focus on research and industrial applications. Innovation has been the driving force behind Oxford Instruments' growth and success for over 50 years, and its strategy is to effect the successful commercialisation of these ideas by bringing them to market in a timely and customer-focused fashion.
The first technology business to be spun out from Oxford University, Oxford Instruments is now a global company with over 2000 staff worldwide. Its objective is to be the leading provider of new generation tools and systems for the research and industrial sectors with a focus on nanotechnology. Its key market sectors include nano-fabrication and nano-materials. The company’s strategy is to expand the business into the life sciences arena, where nanotechnology and biotechnology intersect.
This involves the combination of core technologies in areas such as low temperature, high magnetic field and ultra high vacuum environments; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; x-ray, electron, laser and optical based metrology; atomic force microscopy; optical imaging; advanced growth, deposition and etching.
Oxford Instruments aims to pursue responsible development and deeper understanding of our world through science and technology. Its products, expertise, and ideas address global issues such as energy, environment, security and health.