Microscopy Suite

Equipment

Microscopy Suite Equipment

Listed below are the major microscopes, ancillary equipment, and facilities available to users of the Microscopy Suite. Click the equipment name for more information on each piece of equipment.

Please be aware that the ITG staff cannot respond to questions about particular pieces of equipment or software packages unless those questions are related to research conducted in the ITG laboratories. The ITG does not sell, lease, or distribute equipment or software, save that clearly marked as developed by the ITG.

Equipment

3D X-ray Computed Tomography

Rigaku CTLab GX130

CT Lab GX series, for ultra-high-speed, high-resolution 3D X-ray micro CT. Using the Sample-Stationary Method, these new devices can perform CT scans in 8 seconds at top speed, with a minimum resolution of 4.5 µm.

Rigaku Nano 3DX

Rigaku Nano3DX X-Ray Microscope

Xradia MicroCT

A high-resolution 3D X-ray imaging system with sub-1 micron pixel resolution for samples up to 100 mm in diameter and 1 kg weight.

Xradia Bio MicroCT

A high-resolution 3D X-ray imaging system for sample up to 200 mm in diameter and 15 kg weight.

3D X-ray Computed Tomography Prep Equipment

Low Speed Bone Saw

A precision water-cooled rotary saw intended primarily for fine sectioning of SEM samples.

Confocal Imaging

Upright Multiphoton Confocal Microscope

The Bruker Ultima upright multiphoton microscope is capable of simultaneous or sequential imaging, electrophysiology and uncaging/photostimulation on in vivo and in vitro specimens.

Deep UV Raman Confocal Imaging Microscope

The Deep UV Raman confocal imaging microscope is a home-built spectral imaging system that is optimized for the UV-to-visible spectral range.

Multiphoton Fluorescence Confocal Microscope (FCS/FLIM)

ISS Alba FCS instrument with single-photon and multiphoton excitation, plus laser scanning module. Capable of FCS, FLIM and FRET imaging.

Leica SP8 UV/Visible Laser Confocal Microscope

405, 458, 488, 514, 561 & 633 nm laser lines, 28 fps Full Range Resonance Scanning, Tiling, FRAP, FRET.

Raman Confocal Imaging System

The Raman confocal imaging microscope is a high-resolution research-grade Horiba LabRAM HR 3D-capable Raman spectroscopy imaging system that is optimized for the visible-to-NIR spectral range.

Electron Microscopy

Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope

ESEM with field-emission electron gun, EDAX energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Peltier-effect heating/cooling stage, 1000µ and 1500µ C heating stages, Everhart-Thornley SED, three GSEDs, backscattered electron detectors, electrical feedthroughs, and more.

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)

Philips CM200 TEM operates at accelerating voltages of up to 200 kV. Digital image acquisition using a TVIPS 2k x 2k Peltier-cooled CCD camera. Offers precise control of specimen, low-dose kit, high tilt holder, rotation stage holder.

Electron Microscopy Prep Equipment

Hydrogen Plasma Cleaner

Diamond Knife

Diamond Knife (use with UCT if available)

RMC Powertome

For the preparation of thin sections for electron microscopy

Autosamdri 931 Critical Point Dryer

Enables nondestructive drying of biological, biomaterial, and material samples from 100% ethanol.

Desk V Sputter Coater

The Desk V Sample Preparation system, equipped for both evaporation and sputtering

Oxygen Plasma Asher

Glow Discharge System

Glow discharge is a mild argon-plasma etch of the surface of carbon-stabilized Formvar-coated TEM grids that removes atmospheric contaminants on TEM grids, rendering them hydrophilic for several days.

Carbon Evaporator

High-vacuum turbo-pumped Denton evaporator with capacity for carbon thread, carbon rod, resistive metal evaporation, dual evaporation mode.

PVT 3D Manual Critical Point Dryer

Enables nondestructive drying of biological, biomaterial, and material samples from 100% ethanol.

Desk II Sputter Coater

Turbo-pumped sputter coater with rotating/tilting stage, film thickness monitor; various targets, including Au, Au/Pd, Pt, Al, Ti.

Ultramicrotome

Multi-illumination pyramid and knife edge, dual automatic advance system, control unit with cutting speed control, memory for five speed combination settings. Capable of ultrathin sectioning from 50 nm to maximum 5 micrometers.

Dual Source Metal Evaporator

Used for high vacuum coating of carbon and other materials as an adjunct to TEM, SEM, x-ray microanalysis, and other research methodologies.

Light Microscopy/Spectroscopy

Remote Stereology Workstation

Inspection Light Microscope

Zeiss AxioScope A1, 100 W Hal lamp designed for UV-blocked epi-illumination, Zeiss Axiovision LE software facilitates image collection. Zeiss AxioCam ICc3 CCD digital camera.

Zeiss SteREO Discovery V20 Microscope

Zeiss Stereo Zoom Discovery V.20 Light Microscope with Vision Research Micro eX4 Monochrome High Speed Video Camera.

Fluorescence Light Microscope

Fluorescence, phase contrast, high NA DIC. Software facilitated image collection.

Micro-Spectroscopy Workstation

Inverted microscope for visible to near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy (300-1700 nm)

Widefield FRET & TIRF Microscope

The Zeiss Axiovert 200M is equipped with a high sensitivity cooled EMCCD camera. The system is capable of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy for a number of well-known FRET pairs, such as ECFP-YPet.

Stereology Workstation

Trace, plot, and analyze structures and cell distribution. System includes all modern stereological probes, Zeiss AxioImager A1 light microscope, Optronics MicroFire Progressive Scan, motorized stage, stereological analysis tools.

Light Scattering Particle-Sizing Systems

NanoSight NS300

The NS300 allows rapid, automated analysis of the size distribution and concentration of all types of nanoparticles from 10nm to 2000nm in diameter, depending on the instrument configuration and sample type.

Anton Paar Litesizer Particle-Sizing System

The Litesizer™ 500 is an instrument for characterizing nano- and microparticles in dispersions and solutions.

AccuSizer FX Particle Sizer

Focused extinction system for the determination of complex multimodal particle size distributions between 0.7 and 20 microns.

NICOMP 380 ZLS Particle Sizer

Dynamic light scattering instrument for determining the particle size distribution of particles in a liquid.

Other Preparation Equipment

Millipore Water Purifier

Takes water from the Beckman Instituteµs large-scale reverse osmosis/mixed-bed/UV-sterilized water purification system and runs it through another set of filters/cartridges.

Fiber/Micropipette Puller

Laser controlled instrument for pulling glass fibers to very fine tips; used primarily for NSOM.

Scanned Probe Microscopy and Profilometry

P-6 Stylus Profiler

The P-6 stylus profiler continues the tradition of best-in-class technology and performance by incorporating many features from KLA-Tencor's automated P-16+ stylus profiler.

Atomic Force Microscope (MultiMode AFM)

Capable of contact, tapping, phase imaging, and multiple force modes in air or liquid cell; STM head; J-scanner with x,y range of 125 microns and vertical range of 5 microns; A-scanner with x,y range of 1 micron and vertical range of 400 nm.

Facilities

Wet Lab

Bench space, fume hood, some chemicals and solvents, dual source metal evaporator, pH meter, dissecting scope, microbalance, glow discharge system, reverse osmosis water purification system, sonicator, sputter coater, critical point dryer, low speed bone saw, osmium plasma coater, and other equipment.

Clean Room

A small Class 500 Clean Room laboratory available for specimen preparation. The Clean Room is for creation and inspection of MEMs devices such as microstamps or microfluidic devices. ITG users need to reserve time to use the Clean Room.