Microscope Precision Positioning Systems Catalog

May 07, 2012

Auburn, MA, – Piezo positioning systems market leader PI (Physik Instrumente) has released a new catalog on precision motion control products for microscopy.

Faster and Higher Precision with Piezo
The new catalog covers a variety of novel positioning stages and scanning systems for specimen as well as microscope objectives and the technology behind the products. Ultrasonic-ceramic motor drives with self-clamping properties, for example, provide better stability in long-term imaging applications than conventional motor-driven stages.

These motors are employed in low-profile, XY long travel microscope stages. If higher resolution is needed, the long-range positioners can be supplemented with XYZ piezo-flexure positioning stages capable of sub-nanometer resolution. This type of precision together with responsiveness on a millisecond scale is what bio-physicists need to advance the field of cell biology with single molecule microscopy techniques.

Digitally controlled piezo objective-lens positioning systems with autofocus capabilities provide more rapid step & settle compared to conventional analog control. This results in faster Z-stack image acquisition and higher 3D imaging quality. High speed piezo steering mirrors scan laser beams in two coplanar axes avoiding polarization rotation errors induced by stacked single axis mirrors as is is the case with galvo scanners.

The precision positioning systems covered in the new catalog are often used in Super Resolution Microscopy (SRM) techniques such as these:

STORM Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy
PALM Photoactivated Localization Microscopy
STED Stimulated Emission Depletion
SIM Structured Illumination Microscope

The catalog can be downloaded at:
http://www.MicroscopeStage.net/Microscope_Positioning_Systems.htm