Imaging System for Correlative Electron/Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Background:
The National Cancer Institute's
Cell Biology Laboratory is seeking statements of interest or
capability from parties interested in collaborative research
agreements to further develop and commercialize a methodology and
device for the microscopic examination of cells and tissues.
One of the fundamental challenges in microscopy is finding the same
region of interest (ROI) of a sample when moving from one
instrument to the next. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional
(3D) information on a single sample can be obtained using a
confocal fluorescence microscope (CFM), a scanning electron
microscope (SEM), or a transmission electron microscope (TEM),
where each microscope provides unique image information, However,
this currently involves time-intensive steps of relocating the ROI
within the different instruments.
Technology:
Commercially-available components
from various confocal and electron microscopies are to be
integrated in a single system or will remain separate but will have
a method to easily transfer the specimen between systems. Automated
control software will (i) automate ROI relocation and (ii) acquire
digital image from ROIs. This permits easier data acquisition from
the same ROI on a particular sample for multiple types of
microscopes.
Applications:
- Localize interest areas in tissue samples prepared, for
example, for immunohistochemistry, cytology, oncology, cell biology
and other fields.
- Fast 2D screening of specimens prior to 3D EM imaging.
IP Status:
A patent application has not yet been filed.
Relevant Publications:
- Lefman, J., Morrison, R. & Subramaniam, S. (2007).
Automated 100-position specimen loader and image acquisition system
for transmission electron microscopy. J Struct Biol 158(3),
318-26.
- Heymann, J., Hayles, M., Gestmann, I., Giannuzzi, L., Lich, L.,
and Subramaniam, S. (2006). Site-specific 3D Imaging of Cells and
Tissues with a Dual Beam Microscope. J. Struct. Biol. 155(1),
63-73.
- Zhang, P., Beatty, A., Milne, J.L. & Subramaniam, S.
(2001). Automated data collection with a Tecnai 12 electron
microscope: applications for molecular imaging by cryomicroscopy. J
Struct Biol 135(3), 251-61.
R&D Status:
Prototype development using commercially-available tools.
Further R&D
Needed:
Research collaborations to accelerate the development of
commercially-viable instruments.
Contact
Information:
John D. Hewes, Ph.D., NCI
Technology Transfer Center
Phone: 301-435-3121
E-mail: Hewesj@mail.nih.gov
Reference: #450 KH
Posted 04/11/2008
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