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Patterned Illumination and Imaging
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Mightex Imaging Solutions
The OASIS Micro and Macro Systems
Mightex offers affordable, modular and highly practical solutions for imaging applications in-vivo, in-vitro, and ex-vivo. These robust, flexible and highly modular scientific microscopes and mesoscopes serve as complete standalone imaging workstations, while still allowing seamless integration of third-party hardware such as high-grade scientific cameras, external light sources, or objectives from market leading suppliers via appropriate adapters.
All systems can optionally be upgraded with the Polygon 1000 series for patterned illumination, and of course, they can also be equipped with the full range of high-quality filters and beamsplitters. The Mightex OASIS product line comprises three application-oriented setups: Micro, Macro, and the Fiberscope.
The OASIS Micro System
The OASIS Micro is a minimalistic yet highly modular and reconfigurable microscope platform designed for cellular-resolution imaging and optogenetic applications. A robust post – either mounted on an own platform or directly to the table – features manual precision X/Y/Z translators and a stackable image splitter cube element, allowing the use of third-party objectives and high-end scientific cameras.
The setup also allows the use of various objectives and high-quality scientific cameras from all leading suppliers thanks to standard ports. This flexibility makes it possible to adapt and scale the microscope precisely to the requirements of the respective application.
The system is cost-efficient, highly customizable, and fundamentally designed to flexibly 'grow' with changing experimental requirements. This makes it a future-proof and versatile solution for current and future projects.
When configured as a double-deck system (as illustrated below), wide-field fluorescence imaging and optogenetic stimulation at single-cell resolution pattern illumination can easily be performed in parallel. Coupling the objectives to Mightex’ GRIN-lenses allows in-cortex and deep-brain imaging and optical stimulation of inner tissue layers in-vivo with best possible resolution.
When configured as a double-deck system, as illustrated in the schematic on the right, wide-field fluorescence imaging and optogenetic stimulation at single-cell resolution pattern illumination can easily be performed - in parallel. Coupling the objectives to Mightex’ GRIN-lenses allows in-cortex and deep-brain imaging and optical stimulation of inner tissue layers In Vivo with best possible resolution.
The OASIS Micro setup is also an ideal solution to combine optical cellular stimulation with Micro Electrode Arrays (MEAs) or cMOS-MEA systems, offering a seamless integration of electrophysiological network examinations with high-resolution optical stimulation. The setup allows for closed-loop feedback stimulation and precise control over complex experimental protocols.
Its truly minimal footprint allows it’s installation within smallest lab niches or seamless integration into electrophysiological setups directly on the anti-vibration table.
Light Pattern Stimulation on Micro Electrode Array and cMOS Amplifiers
The OASIS Micro is also an ideally trimmed microscope platform to perform cellular resolution optical stimulation on Micro Electrode Arrays or cMOS chips directly in their recording amplifiers. The upright built with the long arm extension and extended tubus enables positioning of the objective right above the amplifier and allows to stimulate individual cells or areas on the array with light of any color during the ongoing electrophysiological recording.
Using immersion objectives (that can come from all manufacturers) facilitates cellular resolution optical stimulation on cell cultures and acute tissue slices – and thus builds a bridge between optogenetic stimulation and electrophysiological network readouts. Via the PolyEcho, the OASIS Micro can seamlessly be integrated in optical closed-loop feedback stimulation and so facilitates complex, multimethodological approaches like no other system currently found on the market. Its truely minimal footprint further allows installation within the smallest lab niches and direct and seamless integration into electrophysiological setups, directly on the anti-vibration table.
The OASIS Macro System
The OASIS Macro is a flexible and modular mesoscope system designed for large-field fluorescence and calcium imaging applications, making it ideal for optogenetic stimulation in larger projection areas. Its heavy-duty stand provides a total of five degrees of freedom (Y/X/Z and two-angle tilting), offering maximal flexibility for optically accessing irregularly shaped and spherical probes. Although it has primarily been developed for live-animal experiments such as head-fixed cranial window imaging that requires a large field of view (FoV) and intense light power projection, the system is very versatile and can also be applied to other, even non-biological imaging and light pattern generation applications.
With a wider beam path and infinity-corrected optics, the macro-imaging system accommodates low-magnification, high NA objectives. This results in higher illumination intensity over larger areas compared to standard microscope platforms.
The OASIS Macro enables light pattern projection in optogenetic applications across areas up to ~12.4 mm in diameter, with a working distance of up to 140 mm, providing both coverage and flexibility for larger-scale experiments.
An universal camera mount on the tubus lens allows the integration of any high-grade scientific camera. It is recommended to deploy specialized Mightex Objectives for these applications, but adapters for 3rd party objectives also exist.
As with the OASIS Micro, the reconfigurable and precisely engineered building block design of the OASIS Macro allows smart and flexible multi-deck configurations for a wide range of experimental setups.
The extendable dichroic ladder design of its central beamsplitter cube elements allows the integration of multiple light sources and one or even several Polygon pattern projectors. In such a configuration, wide-field fluorescence imaging and optical stimulation can be performed simultaneously if needed, and additional modules can be added to the setup at any time during the evolving experiment.
Additional modules can be retrofitted at any time and easily integrated into the existing setup, even as experiments evolve. All optical filter elements and beam splitters are simply inserted into the central filter cube blocks in the OASIS Micro and securely fixed in place by strong magnets (optionally supplemented by additional screws for permanent setups). This allows quick and effortless adjustment of wavelengths even during the experiment, supporting convenient, flexible, and efficient workflows.
We’re Happy to Assist!
As your trusted and competent partner, we support you in configuring your setup for optimal performance in your specific application. The use of the modular Mightex devices requires a set of well selected proprietary mechanical and optical adapters and items. But don‘t worry about configuring all the bits and pieces yourself, just let us know what you intend to do and from where you want to start and we make it work – smooth, personally and independent - without any risks of missing something or over-configuring the planned setup.