OLYMPUS TECHNOZONE Vol.64 2005-04
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Contributing to the advancement of the life sciences and health care by unraveling the mysteries of life phenomena |
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Olympus is helping to lay the foundations for next-generation healthcare by unraveling the secrets of living cells and cerebral nerves. Those working in the life sciences today are engaged in a relentless drive to understand the complex and subtle mechanisms of biological phenomena. Olympus has contributed to progress in such areas as the life sciences and medicine by developing and supplying products to support those involved in front-line research in these fields. There is a growing need for systems that allow direct observation of living cells under normal conditions. Particular interest has focused on the use of fluorescent observation in combination with genetic engineering methods as a way of analyzing genes and proteins within cells. Olympus unveiled the FluoViewTM FV1000 confocal laser scanning microscopes at the December 2003 conference of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan. The new system, which is the first full model change in four years, went on sale in Japan in the following January, and overseas at the end of June 2004. The user reaction has been extremely positive. Mystery still surrounds many aspects of cells, which are the basic units of all living things, and the cerebral nerve cells of the brain, long regarded as the unmapped organ of the body. Research using the FV1000 has helped to explain the workings of individual cells, leading to a better understanding of biological functions in body tissue, organs and the body as a whole, and to the clues that will show the path to next-generation medical advances in such areas as cancer prevention and the treatment of Alzheimer's. The FV1000 is playing a pivotal role in this research.
A confocal microscope provides 3-D images. For example, it is possible to build images analyzing slices of a living cell to create a specimen model with x, y and z axes and a time axis (t). This is achieved using fluorescence detection technology. The FV1000 is equipped with one of the world's most advanced spectroscopic analysis systems. It provides visible images over a wavelength range from 400nm (violet) to 800nm (infrared) with a 2-nanometer resolution. It also features spectral profile deconvolution (SPD) system, which automatically separates similar fluorescence. In the past, it was necessary to measure wavelength data for the fluorescent dyes used before conducting actual experiments. The SPD system dramatically reduces the user's workload. " Previously, optical inference filters designed for specific wavelengths were used. By adding a spectrometer that can be set to any detection wavelength, it becomes possible to obtain highly reliable spectroscopic data across the entire range of wavelengths captured." As a result, it is possible to handle data in five dimensions, including not only xyz and time, but also wavelength (λ). World's First Twin Scanning System - Simultaneous Capture of Reactions to Laser Stimulation Another key feature of the FV1000 is the world's first SIM (SIMultaneous) scanner system . "In addition to the laser used to scan the specimen, light from a separate laser stimulates the cell under observation so that the reaction can be captured simultaneously. In earlier systems, the laser was first used to stimulate the specimen and then switched into observation mode, inevitably resulting in a time lag. With the FV1000, the stimulation laser and observation laser are operated at the same time, allowing more precise data to be captured from within the cell immediately after stimulation." The development of this SIM scanning system was prompted by suggestions from Japanese scientists involved in cerebral nerve cell research supported by Olympus. The project began with an exploration of the feasibility of the concept through the development of a basic system. In fact, experiments to verify basic principles were carried out at the same as the development process. " In the case of consumer products, such as digital cameras, developers can form a clear perception of what consumers want to do with the products. However, the development of a laser microscope requires highly sophisticated knowledge that is far removed from everyday experience. It took considerable effort simply to gain a proper understanding of the needs of the scientists." The goal was to apply opto-digital technology developed by Olympus to the creation of a system that would meet the advanced requirements of scientists. The process was stimulating for both sides. It resulted in scientific breakthroughs as well as the creation of a revolutionary new product. >> Click here for the further informarion of FV1000 |
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From "OTF85/Life Science Zone" The Life Science Zone featured highly sophisticated microscopes and analyzers used in research institutes and hospitals. The zone consisted of three areas. The first was devoted to the use of living cell imaging analysis to explain the mechanisms of biological phenomena. The second area focused on Olympus' contribution to healthy living through preventive medicine. The theme of the third area was the application of advanced genetic scanning technology to the DNA analysis of proteins.
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