MDS Analytical Technologies Launches Molecular Devices' MetaMorph(R) ICS Confocal Microscope for Live Cell and Functional Imagin
01 Oktober 2007 - 2:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
SUNNYVALE, CA, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MDS Analytical
Technologies, a leader in innovative solutions for drug discovery
and life sciences research, announced today the launch of a
significant advance in high speed imaging technologies from its
Molecular Devices business with the release of the MetaMorph(R) ICS
(Integrated Confocal System), in partnership with VisiTech
International, a manufacturer of confocal hardware. This turnkey,
confocal microscope is the first of its kind in the imaging
industry. It has the capability to obtain high resolution images in
multiple dimensions to support researchers in their exploration of
live cell and functional imaging without the limitations inherent
in other high-speed imaging technologies. This unique microscope
combines the Molecular Devices' MetaMorph software, which is the
industry standard automation and image analysis package, with the
VT-Infinity(3)(TM) 2D-array laser confocal scanner from VisiTech
International. This combination is designed to meet the growing
demand for imaging rapid changes within cells and then analyzing
these changes in multiple dimensions. The microscope has matched
micro-lens and pinhole arrays to achieve optimum performance and a
single, double-sided galvanometer mirror to scan the sample,
de-scan the fluorescent light returned from the sample, and re-scan
that fluorescent light into the camera to create multi-dimensional,
confocal images in real-time. This capability is especially useful
in such areas as cardiac research. For example, after a heart
attack, researchers want to know how the cardiac muscle contracts
to determine if there is damage to the muscle. Using calcium
imaging with the MetaMorph ICS, the reaction of cardiac muscle
cells can be analyzed in real-time, giving researchers important
clues as to how the cardiac muscle works. This new microscope can
be used in multiple imaging applications, including protein
localization, protein-protein interactions, gene expression,
intra-cellular ion waves, calcium puffs and sparks, FRET,
co-localization, tissue section morphology and 3D reconstruction.
"We are very excited to introduce this innovative microscope, a
first of its kind in the imaging industry," said Andy Boorn,
President of MDS Analytical Technologies. "We've combined the
speed, resolution, and sensitivity of the multi-dimensional,
confocal imaging technology with the methods and applications in
our MetaMorph software to produce a powerful new solution for
researchers to advance their analysis with live cell and functional
imaging." Professor Dr. Peter Lipp, chair of the Institute for
Molecular Cell Biology at the University of the Saarland in
Homburg, Germany, commented, "In our research lab, we use the
VT-Infinity(3) scanner. This scanner represents an entirely new
level in multi-beam confocal technology, offering greater
flexibility and ultra-high-speed acquisition. It was an excellent
choice to use as the scanning component in the new MetaMorph ICS."
The new MetaMorph ICS microscope will be presented at the American
Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting, December 1-5, 2007 in
Washington, DC, at MDS Analytical Technologies' Molecular Devices
booth #1203. About MDS Inc. MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ) is a
global life sciences company that provides market-leading products
and services that our customers need for the development of drugs
and diagnosis and treatment of disease. We are a leading global
provider of pharmaceutical contract research, medical isotopes for
molecular imaging, radiotherapeutics, and analytical instruments.
MDS has more than 6,200 highly skilled people in 28 countries. Find
out more at http://www.mdsinc.com/ or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24
hours a day. About MDS Analytical Technologies MDS Analytical
Technologies is a newly established MDS Inc. business unit and is a
world-class organization comprised of two main lines of business.
The Sciex product portfolio offers proven market leadership in mass
spectrometry through its joint ventures with two of the world's
leading analytical instrumentation and life sciences companies,
Applied Biosystems, a business of the Applera Corporation and
PerkinElmer Inc. The Molecular Devices product portfolio is the
gold standard in high-performance bioanalytical measurement systems
that accelerate and improve drug discovery and other life sciences
research. Find out more at http://www.moleculardevices.com/ or
http://www.mdssciex.com/. DATASOURCE: MDS Analytical Technologies
CONTACT: Media: Cheri Salazar, Director, Marketing Communications,
Molecular Devices, now part of MDS Analytical Technologies, (408)
548-6316, ; Investors: Sharon Mathers, Senior Vice-President,
Investor Relations and External Communications, MDS Inc., (416)
675-6777 x 34721,
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