Alpha 3 Facility Edition

Qualitative and Quantitative Imaging

The Alpha³ Facility Edition combines patented technologies to provide a uniform, optimally resolved, and full-field light sheet image. The Facility Edition has smart dual illuminators coupled with a widefield detection microscope. Each multidirectional light sheet illuminator performs real-time focus sweeping to extend the thinnest focus area over the entire field of view for clear, artifact-free images. It also provides Z-alignment during multichannel acquisitions to correct chromatic aberration-induced focus shifts between different fluorescence channels.

Real-Time Optical Focus Screening

Optical focus sweeping alleviates spatial and temporal resolution constraints for 3D image acquisition. This feature maintains the focus of the light sheet across the entire field of view for optimal image clarity. In other words, the exposed field is always in the thinnest region of the light sheet. This principle relies on a tenable lens for focal plane sweeping that is synchronized with the rolling shutter of the camera.

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Cleared mouse brain image taken without (left) and with sharp optical sectioning (right).

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Automated Multi-Scale Imaging

As a fully automated system, the Alpha³ Facility Edition automatically adjusts the microscope configurations when you switch the objective magnification so you can focus on imaging.

A typical imaging session starts with a quick sample screening using a low magnification objective followed by image acquisition using a higher magnification objective on single or multiple regions of interest.

Thanks to the extended range of objective lenses in magnifications from 2X to 60X, you can image a whole organism or organ at your preferred XYZ resolution and acquisition speed.

Easy Multi-Sample Mounting

The system provides fast and reproducible mounting of single or multiple samples while preserving the specimen integrity. A wide range of corrosion-resistant sample holders offer the flexibility to image small to large specimens, including cell cultures or whole cleared tissues.

For in vivo imaging of live specimens, precise temperature, CO₂, and humidity controls are available to maintain stable experimental conditions.

3D viewer with interactive volume scan settings

The LINDA 3D viewer generates a quick preview of the sample with a low magnification objective during imaging. This assistant provides a live display of the current slice and builds a 3D render while you are exploring the sample.

Intuitive acquisition software

The QtSPIM software for the Alpha³ Facility Edition provides intuitive controls for Z-stack, dynamic focus, XY tiling, imaging sequence, focus sweeping, and time-lapse acquisitions. You can select all acquisition parameters, including the laser, camera settings, position of the light sheet, and number of image planes and Z-steps for collecting image datasets with optimal lateral and axial resolutions.