JENA (GERMANY), SAN FRANCISCO, (Cal., USA). 17 October 2009
Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH has received a license from the University of California for the commercialization of “superresolution”, a microscopy technique offering extraordinarily high resolution.
The technique called Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) was developed by scientists Mats G.L. Gustafsson, John W. Sedat and David A. Agard at the University of San Francisco (UCSF).
The technology overcomes the classical diffraction limit to microscopic resolution by combining a special illumination pattern with state-of-the-art computational image analysis. Compared to a conventional microscope, the resulting superresolution images have up to double the resolution in all three spatial directions.
The agreement grants Carl Zeiss the right to integrate the SIM technique into its microscope systems. With the ELYRA S.1 system, the supperresolution SIM technology will be available on standard microscopes for the first time.
With its ELYRA PS.1 system, Carl Zeiss is offering the combination of SIM with PAL-M technology, a second superresolution technique (Photoactivated Localization Microscopy), in one single system for the very first time. This considerably expands the experimental possibilities of modern light microscopy, opening up new horizons in cell biology and neurological research in particular.
Fig. 1: Photograph of neuronal growth cone with widefield microscopy (left) and SR-SIM, staining for tubulin (red) and F-actin (green). Specimen: M. Fritz and M. Bastmeyer, University of Karlsruhe (TH), Germany.
Further information is available at www.zeiss.de/superresolution-pr
Text on the Internet: http://www.zeiss.de/micro-press.
Carl Zeiss AG
Carl Zeiss AG is a leading group of companies operating worldwide in the optical and opto-electronic industries. The five independently operating business groups are active in the future-oriented markets of Medical and Research Solutions, Industrial Solutions and Lifestyle Products. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. Carl Zeiss AG is fully owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation). During fiscal year 2007/08 (ended Sept. 30), the company generated revenues of EUR 2,731 million. Carl Zeiss has around 13,000 employees in more than 30 countries, including over 8,000 in Germany.
Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH
Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH is a 100% subsidiary of Carl Zeiss AG. The leading manufacturer of microscope systems offers total solutions for biomedical research, the healthcare sector and high-tech industries. The product line spans a broad spectrum from light microscopes and systems for laser scanning microscopy and spectrometry to hardware and software for image processing and documentation.
Microscopes from Carl Zeiss allow scientists to gain important knowledge about diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and tuberculosis. This results in new diagnostic techniques and better drugs for therapy. ZEISS microscopes support the development of new materials and enable more efficient quality inspection in industry.
Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH is headquartered in Jena. Other manufacturing and development sites are located in Göttingen and Munich. During fiscal year 2007/08, the Microscopy Group at Carl Zeiss generated revenues of approximately EUR 340 million with a global workforce of about 1,700.
