Denville, New Jersey – January 19, 2017 – Special Optics, a design and manufacture company specializing in precision optical assemblies, and Applied Scientific Instrumentation (ASI), a provider of complex life science and light microscopy solutions, together have developed a immersion objective lens specifically designed for light sheet microscopy of cleared tissue samples, including ASI’s dual-view Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy (diSPIM) which enables isotropic resolution without manipulating the sample. The lens is also appealing to researchers building customized microscope setups (e.g. OpenSPIM type) because it is available for separate purchase, unlike other objectives suitable for cleared tissue.
The 0.4 N.A. multi-immersion objective is designed for dipping media RI ranging from 1.33 to 1.56, has NA ~0.4, >1 mm field of view, ~17x magnification, and 12 mm working distance. When used in multi-view systems like the diSPIM, the Special Optics objective lens offers sub-micron resolution in X, Y, and Z.
The large working distance enables imaging samples that were previously inaccessible. The objective permits imaging more than 5 mm deep into a flat sample when rotated at a 45° angle above the sample, as used in the diSPIM.
Key specifications of the immersion objective:
- 0.4 @ RI 1.45 N.A. (N.A. is 0.4*RI/1.45)
- 1.33-1.56 Immersion Media RI
- 12 mm @ 1.45 EFL (EFL is 12 mm*1.45/RI)
- 12 mm W.D. (for all RI)
- 1.2 mm diameter FOV
- 480-1000 nm Spherical Correction
- 480-720 mm Chromatic Correction
“Feedback from the research community indicated a gap in objective lens offerings specifically designed for light sheet imaging with a broad range of clearing media,” comments Craig Fitzgerald, Vice President of Business Development for Special Optics. “The optical design teams from Special Optics and ASI are pleased to release this new product to the neuroscience research/light sheet microscopy market to satisfy this customer need.”
About Special Optics
Special Optics, a Navitar company, designs, develops and manufactures precision optical components from a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Denville, New Jersey. Special Optics is a leading designer and manufacturer of custom optical solutions for defense, biomedical and commercial applications. These sophisticated solutions are typically found in applications that demand the finest optical surfaces, highest accuracy and tightest tolerances. Since our beginning in 1965, we have developed and refined a wide range of optical fabrication and opto-mechanical assembly capabilities. As a result, we have evolved into a unique company, offering standard catalog optics along with custom designs, while continuing to focus on responding to customer needs. For more information, call 973-366-7289 or visit the Special Optics website at www.specialoptics.com. For more information about Navitar, Inc. and its vast offering of innovative products visit the company’s website at www.navitar.com.
About Applied Scientific Instrumentation, Inc. (ASI)
Applied Scientific Instrumentation, Inc. (ASI) is a company committed to the advancement of science, with decades of experience meeting researchers’ technical needs for microscope automation and imaging. Established in 1990, our product line has evolved from an interactive process between our engineers and the dedicated researchers that we work with throughout the world. We are constantly trying to improve our products as well as identify and develop new designs to meet the current and future demands of scientific research. We value your input to this process and would like to hear about any special requirements, feedback, or technical problems that we could help solve. Whether it is a complete system for a complex biological experiment, automation devices for increasing throughput, or inspection systems to catch defects and increase production, Applied Scientific Instrumentation has the products, people, and partners to provide well-engineered solutions for you. For more information about ASI visit the company’s website at www.asiimaging.com.