Accessible Microscopy

The FSX100 all-in-one microscope enables users of any experience level to take exceptional images. Users are guided through a baseline “set - select - capture” workflow to achieve exceptional fluorescence images.

Fully-assisted Fluorescence

When the FSX100 is turned on, the user is guided to load the sample onto the adaptable stage. Once loaded, an observation mode can be selected. At the touch of a button, an autofocused auto-exposed overview image can be created at low magnification from which 30 regions of interest (ROI) can be defined. On zooming in on one region the users can chose to proceed directly to capturing the image with automatically adjusted since light intensity, exposure time and focus are automatically adjusted by the system. Additionally, users have the option to manually adjust parameters, such as magnification, fluorescence channels and control motorization to optimize image quality without ever needing to physically touch the microscope.

High-quality Imaging for All Users

The Olympus all-in-one microscope concept ensures that users of any level of experience can perform advanced imaging techniques such as time lapse, Z-stacks and multi-area imaging. The speed and ease with which fluorescence images can be created not only makes the FSX100 ideal for beginners, but also offers experienced users unique capabilities. Furthermore, the self-contained portable nature makes the FSX100 particularly useful when bench space is limited or where there is a need to avoid transporting samples.

Optically Superior

All Olympus microscopes are developed around award-winning optics, and the FSX100 is no exception. The FSX100 comes equipped with UIS2 optics poised to match the capabilities of any competitor.

Motorization

The complexity of controlling a microscope using advanced techniques means that there are many components to motorize in order to provide complete automation. The FSX100 is fully motorized to provide precise control over all functions such as focus, objective changes, optical zoom, cover-glass thickness correction, dichroic mirror changes and XY stage positioning.

Optimized Imaging

Fluorescence microscopy is one of the most common imaging techniques and has been instrumental in the discovery of many important scientific breakthroughs. Furthermore, a broader range of scientists are turning to fluorescence microscopy to image at the cellular and subcellular levels. The FSX100 all-in-one fluorescence microscope ensures that all users can maximize the imaging of their samples quickly and easily.

Worry-free Fluorescence

The FSX100 is equipped with three high-quality fluorescence excitation filters and can be fitted with a fourth if needed. The three supplied filters - ultraviolet (360 - 370 nm), blue (460 - 495 nm) and green (530 - 550 nm), cover the excitation requirements for many standard fluorescence dyes, such as DAPI, FITC, TRITC and GFP. The metal halide fluorescence light source provides steady, pre-centered illumination and has a lifetime of 2,000 hours. A fly eye lens is used to ensure even illumination across the field of view and an ND filter is added to control the amount of excitatory light to avoid photo-bleaching of the specimen. Additionally, the field stop is automatically synchronized to the optical zoom to illuminate the part of the sample in the field of view.

Brilliant Brightfield

For phase-contrast and brightfield imaging, the FSX100 is fitted with an LED white light source, providing exceptional illumination stability and color consistency throughout its 16,000 hours lifetime. LEDs also provide color consistency throughout the intensity range, meaning brightness can be controlled without worrying about changes in color.

Fantastic Phase

The system uses a projection phase-contrast setup, where the phase ring is introduced at the level of the filter turret, rather than being positioned permanently in the objective. As a result, there is no requirement for a dedicated phase-contrast objective and the phase ring is only placed in the light path when needed. This also ensures that fluorescence signals are not impeded during fluorescence imaging, making it ideal for specimens with weak signals.

Optically Advanced

Olympus’ UIS2 optics provides the best possible transmission of fluorescence and brightfield illumination, with minimal spherical and chromatic aberrations. The 40x SAPO objective has a very high NA of 0.95 and is fitted with a motorized cover glass correction collar. Due to the high NA of the objective and the superior 0.42x - 2x zoom optics, the FSX100 provides a zoom range of 4.2x - 80x without any “empty magnification”, ensuring that resolution increases with magnification.

Capturing it All

A high-performance CCD camera is used for both fluorescence and brightfield imaging, offering excellent monochrome sensitivity and color reproduction with a maximum resolution of 12.5 megapixels. Camera control is fully integrated into the software, ensuring optimization of image capture.

Simple to Use - Set, Select, Capture

The FSX100 introduces a higher level of ease-of-use to microscopy than ever before. Complex processes of traditional microscopes are eliminated, ensuring that a broader range of users can access advanced imaging techniques.

Set - Sample Loading

When the FSX100 is switched on the user is guided to load the sample onto the stage. Once loaded, imaging mode is selected. The sample is then ready to be imaged.

Select - Regions of Interest

An autofocused auto-exposed overview image is then created. This overview image is also then available for rapid navigation around the sample in all subsequent steps. Users can select up to 30 regions of interest (ROI) and define imaging processes for each region.

Capture - High Quality

Once the ROI is in the imaging frame, imaging can be performed immediately. Fine-tuning of settings such as magnification power, focus, exposure, imaging mode, and navigation around the sample is controlled from the software. Upon imaging, associated metadata is also recorded, ensuring repeatability of the imaging technique.

Advanced Imaging with User-centric Design

Combining high-quality optics with user-centric software, the Olympus FSX100 is an all-in-one fluorescence imaging system that allows users of any experience to use advanced microscopy techniques to take outstanding images.

Intuitive Control

On zooming into a region of interest, the FSX100 maintains the perfect image, ensuring that the user can remain fixed on the experiment rather than the operation of the instrument. With the ROI displayed in the main view window, important features such as the shutter, focus, exposure, cover glass thickness, magnification and color channel can be focused.

Real-time Image Quality

A real-time image quality filter enables users to apply three levels of noise reduction as well as edge sharpness enhancement algorithms to samples. An automatic black balance correction facility can also be applied to ensure smooth background across the sample (more experienced users can take manual control of this balancing).

Quick Navigation

A small overview image is shown which enables quick navigation to a new ROI. The main viewing window can be toggled to show individual channels or overlay for clear analysis of multicolor fluorescence samples. The display window can also be changed to show all channels separately and simultaneously.

On Stage

The FSX100 supports a number of different specimen formats such as standard glass slides and glass and plastic culture dishes. Additionally, the stage is completely contained within the enclosure, ensuring that once the sample is loaded, it is essentially held within a darkroom, making fluorescence imaging much more efficient. Furthermore, the precision of the stage ensures that up to 30 separate points can be bookmarked for readout during image capture. The stage also enables the system to stitch together 3 x 3 and 5 x 5 image montages at 20x to 60x magnifications.

Helpful Guidance

The built-in user assistance resource provides additional guidance for inexperienced users, guiding them through the process step by step.

Data Analysis and Storage

Various filters are available for post-acquisition processing to improve or emphasize key features. Additionally, separate overlays of graphics and text can be included to highlight important points without altering the original image. Basic measurements such as line, area, and brightness can also be performed and exported into Excel.

The FSX100 is equipped with a robust file management library system, ensuring images are easy to find and can be viewed in a number of different formats. Files can also be tagged with user-defined flags to enable grouping and quick sorting. Additionally, acquisition settings can be saved and applied to a new image at the touch of a button.