The Confocal Core Unit consists of two pieces of equipment, the Vectra Polaris Automated Quantitative Imaging System and the Zeiss Confocal Microscope, providing access to state-of-the-art equipment that enhances research capabilities at CSU.
For training and usage, please contact Mercedes Gonzalez-Juarrero.
Zeiss Confocal Microscope
Location: Microbiology building room B318
A Zeiss LSM 510 META laser scanning confocal microscope equipped with 4 lasers. The automated and reproducible image capture is performed by three photomultipliers (2 standard PMT + 1 META) plus separate PMT for visible light which is recorded simultaneously; and simultaneous interlaced dual laser scanning (“multi-tracking” not available in other confocal systems) which permits simultaneous monitoring of 3-label specimens. However, up to 8 different channels can be imaged if done sequentially. The LSM 510 scans at 5.2 Frames per second (FPS); 512 x 512, and 77 FPS at 512 x 32 pixels. Line scans at 2800hz. The maximum image size is of 2048×2048 RGB= 12MByte.
Vectra Polaris Automated Quantitative Imaging System
Location: Microbiology building room B204
The Vectra Polaris is a fluorescent microscope that was purchased in 2021 with funds provided by an NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant. The Vectra Polaris scans both bright field and fluorescent slides and can take multispectral imagery of user-specified areas of interest, user-chosen TMA cores, or areas of interest determined through the use of in the form Tissue Finder.