Molecular Devices Interview: ImageXpress® Micro

Molecular Devices

Category: Imaging | Live-Cell Imaging System | Molecular Imaging Systems | High Content Screening | 04/07/2012 - 08:51:31

ImageXpress

Molecular Devices develop specialist instruments and software for applications in bioanalytical research. We speak to Ben Haworth, Field Application Scientist for Imaging at Molecular Devices about the popular ImageXpress® High Content Screening (HCS) systems. The ImageXpress® product family includes The ImageXpress® Micro, ImageXpress® Micro XL, ImageXpress® Ultra and ImageXpress® Velos.

ImageXpress® Micro

What are the main advantages of the ImageXpress® Micro XL over competing laboratory imaging systems?

The ImageXpress® Micro XL has better Image Quality, Detector Sensitivity and offers simplicity of image analysis.

Can you tell me about some recent laboratory research featuring the ImageXpress® Micro?

Many of our customers are choosing to work on more biologically relevant model cell lines. Therefore we are seeing a lot of usage in the sphere of Stem Cell differentiation, and compound screening of stem-cell derived cell lines. There is also a lot of interest in toxicity studies on beating cardio-myocytes.

In addition to the ImageXpress® Micro, the product family includes the ImageXpress® Ultra and the ImageXpress® Velos.  How do the three models complement or compare with each other?

The ImageXpress® Micro is the most flexible imaging system on the market. When customers approach me with ideas for novel assays - it's very rare indeed that there isn't a way to achieve what they ask for on the ImageXpress® Micro.

The ImageXpress® Ultra is the confocal cousin of the ImageXpress® Micro. It is a true point scanning confocal screening system with a user configurable pinhole. It is ideal for optically sectioning samples, and acquiring images of the very highest quality.

The ImageXpress® Velos is a very fast whole well laser scanning cytometer, which provides whole-well, cellular level information across all plate formats. Entire 384-well plates can be acquired and analysed within 2 minutes with this system.

Widefield High Content Screening

The new ImageXpress® Micro XL widefield high content screening system supports a broad range of lenses offering between one and a hundred times magnification, and a modular design so researchers can choose the optimum configuration for their research.

Can you tell me a little more about the modules available for the ImageXpress® Micro XL?

The ImageXpress® Micro XL is available with up to 19 Easy to Configure analysis modules designed to measure and quantify all of the most commonly studied areas of cell biology.

They are designed to facilitate fast and objective data analysis with an simple and intuitive user interface

How easy is it to change lenses, filters and components?

The user can do this without any need for engineer intervention. Objectives and filters can be changed and configured in less than 2 minutes.

You can view the video below for details of how to change a filter cube.

I understand that the ImageXpress® Micro supports live-cell and label-free imaging without needing cell stains or chemical markers. How is this achieved, and what are the main benefits of these features?

The ImageXpress® Micro has an optional Phase Contrast Condenser which allows acquisition of both Brightfield, and Phase Contrast images of unstained samples.

This means you can measure changes in morphology/motility or any of a wide range of cellular parameters while keeping your cells in a highly native, biologically relevant state.

In summary, who should buy this product and why should they choose the ImageXpress® Micro?

Anyone whose current microscope system slows them down!

People who want to objectively count and measure biological samples in microplates.

Existing High Content Screening customers who want to upgrade to the most modern HCS technology to reduce their acquisition times by close to 3-fold versus previous generation imaging platforms.