Olympus EVIDENT APX100 Desktop Fluorescence Microscope

Overview

The Olympus EVIDENT APX100 Desktop Fluorescence Microscope is an engineered solution for routine and advanced life science imaging in academic laboratories, core facilities, and pharmaceutical quality control environments. Designed around a modular upright optical architecture, the APX100 employs high-transmission, apochromatically corrected fluorescence optics—including infinity-corrected objectives with optimized transmission across UV–visible–NIR spectral bands—to deliver high signal-to-noise ratio imaging of fixed and live biological specimens. Its core measurement principle relies on epifluorescence illumination combined with precise spectral filtering (excitation/emission dichroic mirrors and bandpass filters) to isolate specific fluorophore emissions. The system integrates a motorized Z-drive with closed-loop feedback and intelligent autofocus algorithms based on contrast gradient analysis—enabling rapid, repeatable focus acquisition across multi-well plates, tissue sections, and 3D culture models without manual intervention.

Key Features

• Smart Sample Navigator: Motorized XY stage with programmable coordinate mapping supports tiled scanning and region-of-interest (ROI) recall; compatible with standard microscope slides, 24-/96-/384-well plates, and Petri dishes.
• High-Fidelity Optical Pathway: Utilizes EVIDENT’s proprietary UIS2 optical system with anti-reflective multilayer coatings, minimizing stray light and maximizing photon collection efficiency—critical for low-light applications such as GFP-tagged protein localization or calcium imaging.
• Automated Focus Engine: Real-time autofocus maintains optimal focal plane during time-lapse acquisitions (up to 100+ frames/hour), with sub-micron repeatability validated per ISO 9345-2 for vertical positioning accuracy.
• Modular Illumination Platform: Supports LED-based excitation sources (365 nm, 470 nm, 560 nm, 630 nm) with TTL synchronization, intensity stabilization (<±1% drift over 2 hours), and optional mercury or metal-halide lamp compatibility for legacy fluorophores.
• Robust Mechanical Architecture: Compact desktop footprint (320 × 450 × 420 mm) with vibration-damped base and thermal-stable aluminum alloy frame ensures long-term optical alignment stability under ambient lab conditions.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The APX100 accommodates a broad range of specimen formats including glass slides (standard and high-precision coverslip thickness options), chambered coverglasses, organ-on-chip devices, and multi-layered hydrogel scaffolds. It supports both transmitted-light contrast techniques (phase contrast, DIC) and reflected fluorescence modalities, enabling correlative imaging workflows. All optical components comply with JIS B 7151 (Japanese Industrial Standard for Microscope Performance Testing) and meet CE marking requirements under Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC) and 2014/35/EU (LVD). For regulated environments, the system supports audit-trail-enabled operation when paired with EVIDENT cellSens software configured under 21 CFR Part 11-compliant mode—including electronic signatures, user access controls, and immutable data logging.

Software & Data Management

Controlled via EVIDENT cellSens Dimension software (v3.1 or later), the APX100 provides integrated acquisition, annotation, measurement, and export capabilities. The software embeds acquisition metadata—including objective magnification, exposure time, gain settings, filter cube ID, Z-stack parameters, and environmental timestamps—directly into TIFF/OME-TIFF file headers. Batch processing pipelines support automated stitching, deconvolution (Wiener filter implementation), and intensity normalization across multi-channel datasets. Data organization follows hierarchical project-folder structures synchronized with Windows Active Directory credentials; all raw image files are stored with SHA-256 checksums to ensure integrity verification during GLP/GMP audits.

Applications

• Cell biology: Subcellular localization studies using immunofluorescence, FISH, and live-cell dyes (e.g., MitoTracker, Hoechst 33342).
• Neuroscience: Dendritic spine morphology analysis in primary neuronal cultures and brain slice preparations.
• Drug discovery: High-content screening (HCS) in 96-well format for cytotoxicity, proliferation, and apoptosis assays.
• Developmental biology: Time-lapse imaging of zebrafish embryos and Drosophila larval tissues expressing fluorescent reporters.
• Quality assurance: Verification of monoclonal antibody binding specificity and lot-to-lot consistency in biomanufacturing QC labs.

FAQ

Is the APX100 compatible with third-party cameras or detectors?
Yes—the system features a standardized C-mount port and supports GenICam-compliant monochrome and color sCMOS/CCD cameras from major vendors (e.g., Hamamatsu, Andor, Photometrics) via USB 3.2 or Camera Link interface.
Can the APX100 perform quantitative fluorescence intensity measurements?
Yes—when calibrated with NIST-traceable fluorescence reference standards (e.g., Chroma QF-1 series), the system enables relative quantitation with inter-session CV <5% under controlled illumination and exposure conditions.
Does the APX100 support environmental chamber integration?
Yes—optional stage-top incubators (37°C, 5% CO₂, humidity control) are mechanically and electrically interfaced via the APX100’s auxiliary I/O port, enabling live-cell imaging with physiological relevance.
What service and support options are available outside Japan?
EVIDENT offers global field service engineering, preventive maintenance contracts, and application specialist consultations through its authorized distributor network, with documentation provided in English, German, French, and Chinese.