Enhanced AFM for Biosciences

(Santa Barbara, CA) The popular BioScope AFM, the first AFM designed for use in conjunction with inverted optical microscopes, has been enhanced to include new features, new capabilities, and improved performance. New micropositioning adjustments have been added for fast, precise alignment of the AFM probe with the optical axis of the inverted optical microscope. Optional manual and motorized precision stages with one-inch travel and submicron resolution are also available for precise positioning of the AFM probe for scanning. Optical image capture capability has also been added as an option so that both AFM and optical images can be viewed and saved for further processing, printing, or export for presentations and publications. In addition, a new integrated acoustic/vibration isolation system is available for optimum signal-to-noise performance even in noisy laboratory environments. The rigid design of the BioScope now allows examination of structures with unprecedented nanometer-scale resolution and tip positioning capability. The recent development of TappingMode, Phase Imaging and Force Volume Imaging for fluid operation further enhances resolution for imaging in biologically-relevant media.

The BioScope AFM is available for Nikon, Zeiss and Olympus inverted optical microscopes, combining bright-field, phase contrast, fluorescence, confocal, Nomarsky (DIC) or spectroscopic optical techniques with AFM , providing an overall magnification range of 25X to 10,000,000X. Samples can be imaged dry or in fluid, allowing in situ examination of cells, tissues and macromolecules on slides or petri dishes with sample preparation similar to optical microscopy. Resolution is comparable to or superior to electron microscopy (EM) without the cumbersome sample preparation required by EM.

Digital Instruments, Veeco Metrology Group , 112 Robin Hill Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93117. Tel: 805-967-1400 ; Fax: 805-967-7717.