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Equipment and Rates

Nikon SoRa

The Nikon SoRa (super resolution by optical reassignment) is a spinning disk confocal built around the inverted Ti2E, with additional resolution provided by the SoRa microlens disk and magnifiers, improving lateral resolution to 120nm.

The system has 7 excitation lasers available (405 / 445 / 488 / 514 / 561 / 594 / 640) as well as a photostimulation unit, and has two back-thinned sCMOS cameras for dual capture capabilities. This versatile system can be used for gentle, high-speed transmitted light, widefield, confocal, and high-resolution imaging.

Nikon AXR with NSPARC and STEDYCON

The Nikon AXR is a point scanning confocal built around the inverted Ti2E, with additional resolution provided by the NSPARC array detector which improves signal-to-noise. With the largest field of view available on the market and the custom design, the AXR is capable of providing a wide range of imaging.

It also has a super resolution Abberior STEDYCON (stimulation emission depletion) module, with lateral resolution down to 30nm.

The confocal side of the system has 8 laser lines available (405 / 445 / 488 / 514 / 561 / 594 / 640 / 730) and the STEDYCON is capable of 4-color imaging, with 3-color STED potential with its 775 nm depletion laser.

Zeiss LSM 880

The Zeiss LSM 880 is a point scanning confocal built around an inverted Zeiss microscope with additiona resolution provided by the Airyscan array detector, improving signal-to-noise. With the versatility of traditional point scanning and additional resolution afforded by Airyscan, the LSM 880 is capable of providing a wide range of imaging.

The LSM 880 is located in Fralin Hall and has 7 excitation wavelengths available (405 / 458 / 488 / 514 / 543 / 594 / 633).

Zeiss Axio Observer

The Zeiss Axio Observer is a widefield, epifluorescent microscope that is free to use in Fralin Hall and great for checking slides!

Analysis Software

Nikon’s NIS Analysis with General Analysis 3, Batch Denoise, and Batch Deconvolution software packages are available on a shared, free-to-use workstation PC in Steger Hall. Though geared towards Nikon images, TIF files are also able to be processed and analyzed here. This workstation PC in Steger Hall also has ZenLite and FIJI software for other image processing and analysis needs.

There is also a free-to-use workstation with ZEN in Fralin Hall for image processing and analysis, separate from the acquisition software.

Rates

  • The hourly rate for internal use of:
    • The Nikon instruments are $40/hr.
    • The Zeiss LSM880 is $38/hr with a minimum charge of $38 (or 1 hour of use).
  • The hourly rate for assistance for internal users is an additional $50/hr with a minimum assistance time of 30min ($25).
    • Note: Trainings will have an assistance charge, but short assistance times (including questions in individual sessions following trainings) have no charge!
  • If you wish to generate your own monthly ISR, instructions can be found through Procurement here.
  • Consumables and dyes offered for purchase to users are price adjusted based on the cost of the individual unit; See examples below.
    • Example 1: A 16-pack of Lab-tek ii 8-well coverglass bottom dishes costs $300. If a user purchases 2, it will cost $37.50 ($18.75/ea).
    • Example 2: Abberior STAR Red anti-mouse secondary antibody was purchased at $500 for 500µL. A 50µL aliquot will cost $50. 
  • Please contact Emery Ng for external rate information.