The LSM 900 setup is configured for confocal fluorescent imaging of fixed samples. It is mounted on a fully motorized AxioObserver Z1 inverted microscope stand and features hardware-based Z drift compensation and a Piezo stage for precise z-stepping. The stage is also motorized in X,Y to mark positions or acquire images of areas larger than the field of view through tiling of individual fields of view.  

Unique to the LSM 900 are the VSD filters that separate signals by precise ranges of wavelength to avoid bleed through between channels. This filter system is used in both the laser scanning confocal and Airyscan 2 light paths. 

Several imaging modalities and detection strategies are implemented on this setup:  

• Confocal laser scanning:  This light path features two multi-alkali PMTs for two track imaging, along with the Airyscan 2 GaAsP detector for a possible third track. This system also has Confocal 2Y mode, which can image twice as fast as conventional point laser scanning by acquiring 2 lines in parallel. The LSM Plus deconvolution mode improves signal to noise by acting as a de-noising step post image acquisition. It can allow the user to save time during acquisition by scanning faster and averaging less. 

• Super resolution confocal Airyscanning: The new Airyscan 2 detector with Multiplex 4Y mode delivers super-resolved images fast by acquiring two or four pixels in parallel, making imaging of larger specimens more possible than before. Read more about how Airyscan improves resolution here.