Evident IXplore IX85 SpinSR Super-Resolution Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope

Overview

The Evident IXplore IX85 SpinSR is a research-grade super-resolution spinning disk confocal microscope engineered for live-cell dynamic imaging at sub-diffraction resolution. Leveraging proprietary dual-disk optical architecture—combining a high-speed Nipkow spinning disk with a secondary microlens-enhanced disk—the system achieves effective lateral resolution down to ~120 nm and axial resolution below 350 nm under optimal labeling and acquisition conditions. Unlike stochastic single-molecule localization techniques (e.g., PALM/STORM), the SpinSR operates on deterministic, wide-field illumination principles, enabling real-time, low-phototoxicity imaging of rapid intracellular processes such as vesicle trafficking, mitochondrial fission/fusion, and cytoskeletal remodeling. Its modular inverted platform integrates seamlessly with environmental control chambers (temperature, CO₂, humidity), piezo-based Z-stages, and high-sensitivity sCMOS or EMCCD detectors to support quantitative 4D (x-y-z-t) volumetric time-lapse studies.

Key Features

• True super-resolution capability without single-molecule blinking requirements—compatible with conventional fluorescent proteins (e.g., GFP, mCherry) and organic dyes (e.g., Alexa Fluor, ATTO dyes).
• Dual-disk optical design with optimized pinhole alignment and microlens coupling for enhanced signal throughput and reduced out-of-focus blur.
• Multi-modal scanning flexibility: native high-speed spinning disk mode (up to 1,000 fps at full frame), resonant scanner option for extended field-of-view confocal imaging, and optional integration with point-scanning modules for comparative modal analysis.
• Advanced optical train featuring Evident’s proprietary UIS3 infinity-corrected optics, supporting aberration-free imaging across visible and near-IR spectra (400–900 nm).
• Integrated hardware synchronization engine for precise coordination between laser modulation, disk rotation, camera exposure, and stage motion—critical for reproducible multi-channel, multi-position, and multi-timepoint experiments.
• Rigid, vibration-damped IX85 inverted stand with motorized nosepiece, focus drive, and filter turret—designed for long-term stability in core facility and shared-lab environments.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The IX85 SpinSR accommodates standard 35 mm glass-bottom dishes, multi-well plates (6–96-well), and custom chambered coverslips. It supports both fixed and live specimens—including adherent mammalian cells, primary neurons, organoids, zebrafish embryos, and C. elegans—with compatibility for temperature-controlled perfusion systems and gas-regulated incubation stages. All optical components comply with ISO 10934-1 (microscope nomenclature) and JIS B 7151 (Japanese industrial standards for optical instruments). The system architecture enables compliance with GLP and GMP documentation workflows when paired with validated software configurations; audit trails, electronic signatures, and user access controls are supported via optional Evident cellSens Dimension software modules aligned with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.

Software & Data Management

Controlled by Evident’s cellSens Dimension software (v3.1+), the SpinSR provides unified acquisition, processing, and analysis workflows. The software includes built-in deconvolution algorithms (Wiener and constrained iterative), intensity-based colocalization analysis (Pearson’s and Manders’ coefficients), and time-series registration tools for drift correction. Raw data is saved in open-format TIFF stacks or vendor-neutral OME-TIFF, ensuring interoperability with third-party platforms such as Fiji/ImageJ, Imaris, and MATLAB. Metadata embedding follows OMERO and Bio-Formats conventions, facilitating metadata-rich archiving in institutional repositories or LIMS-integrated storage systems. Optional cloud-sync and remote monitoring modules support collaborative multi-site projects while maintaining local data sovereignty.

Applications

• Live-cell organelle dynamics: Real-time tracking of lysosomal motility, ER tubule remodeling, and Golgi fragmentation during mitosis.
• Subcellular protein organization: Nanoscale mapping of synaptic scaffold proteins (e.g., PSD-95, Bassoon) in primary neuronal cultures.
• Host-pathogen interactions: High-temporal-resolution imaging of viral entry, replication compartment formation, and immune synapse assembly.
• Developmental biology: 4D reconstruction of morphogenetic movements in gastrulating embryos with minimal photodamage.
• Drug mechanism studies: Quantitative assessment of compound-induced changes in nuclear pore complex distribution or chromatin condensation kinetics.

FAQ

What is the minimum resolvable feature size achievable with the SpinSR under live-cell conditions?
Typical lateral resolution is 120–140 nm, depending on fluorophore brightness, labeling density, and signal-to-noise ratio; axial resolution ranges from 300–400 nm.
Can the system be upgraded to include STED or SIM capabilities?
The IX85 platform supports modular expansion; however, SpinSR is a dedicated spinning disk super-resolution configuration—STED and SIM require separate optical paths and laser sources not natively integrated into this model.
Is the UPLXAPO 100×/1.50 objective included by default?
It is available as a configurable option; standard delivery includes a high-NA 60×/1.42 oil objective, with the 100×/1.50 offered as an upgrade for maximum resolution applications.
Does the system support multi-color super-resolution imaging?
Yes—simultaneous 4-channel acquisition is supported using dichroic mirror sets and spectral unmixing algorithms, with excitation wavelengths spanning 405 nm to 730 nm.
What level of technical support and service coverage is provided outside Japan?
Evident offers global service agreements including preventive maintenance, on-site calibration, application specialist consultations, and remote diagnostics through authorized regional service centers in North America, EMEA, and APAC.