Leica AF6000 Advanced Fluorescence Imaging System

Leica Updated: 2009-02-07 RSS
Leica AF6000 Advanced Fluorescence Imaging System

The flexible system for a variety of applications in fluorescence microscopy and image analysis including time-lapse experiments, multi-positioning, z-stacking and deconvolution.

The Leica AF6000 provides all the necessary facilities for demanding fluorescence applications.

This flexible, fully integrated system can be equipped with a large number of application packages and software modules. The system incorporates a wealth of standard features for image documentation, processing, quantification and analysis. Optional modules for FRET, advanced time-lapse, channel unmixing, colocalization and various deconvolution techniques will extend the analysis capability.

Key Features

* 3D time-lapse experiments
* Display and interact with 3D data volumes with the 3D Visualize package
* Multi-channel acquisition to generate overlays at the click of a button
* Measurement and presentation features for image quantification
* Full range of enhancement tools for improving the appearance of the image
* Mark and Find capabilities for multi site experiments
* A range of advanced deconvolution options
* Dye Finder for elimination of cross-talk between fluorochromes
* Colocalization for visualization and quantification of colocalized fluorochromes
* FRET SE Wizard for the acquisition and analysis of live FRET specimens
* Live Data Mode for flexible definition and combination of various experimental routines
* Well Plate acquisition with predefined or user-definable patterns (Leica DMI6000 B required)

Flexibility for a wide range of applications
The Leica AF6000 is compatible with automated upright and inverted microscopes from Leica Microsystems. In addition, the Leica M205 FA fluorescence stereomicroscope with FusionOptics™ is a perfect partner for the Leica AF6000, with applications in time-lapse and 3D image capture in the world of developmental biology. The use of a motorized stage also enables documentation of images on several selected areas of interest in the specimens. The Leica AF6000 can be combined with monochrome and color cameras as well as EMCCD cameras. The camera of choice for high-resolution fluorescence imaging is the Leica DFC360 FX.

Deconvolution
The Deconvolution module offers sophisticated deconvolution for 3D microscopic images. This module provides extremely high resolution image restoration and removes haze and blur by reassigning the out-of-focus light. All necessary deconvolution parameters are automatically loaded from the original experiment. The deconvolution algorithms blind, non-Blind Deconvolution, Inverse Filter and Gold method are fully integrated. A point-spread function can either be measured or automatically calculated based on the known Leica objective data to deconvolve the data set.

These software modules are part of the basic Leica Application Suite for Advanced Fluorescence. When using a motorized stage, both modules are activated to give full advantage of a high precision stage over a manual stage. Mark & Find enables the user to define multi position experiments to observe a large number of cells within one experiment, saving precious time. The Tile Scan feature allows the acquisition of overview images of the specimen with multiple channels and in three dimensions.