Summary: CrestOptics and Leica Microsystems have partnered to integrate CrestOptics’ CICERO spinning disk unit into Leica’s THUNDER Imager Cell Spinning Disk system, offering advanced microscopy solutions for high-resolution imaging of complex samples.

Takeaways:

  1. Expanded Imaging Capabilities: The partnership enables Leica Microsystems to enter the spinning disk market, combining CrestOptics’ CICERO unit with Leica’s THUNDER platform for enhanced 3D imaging and live cell analysis.
  2. Innovative Technology Integration: Features such as THUNDER’s computational clearing, adaptive immersion, and SmartCORR optimize imaging precision and streamline workflows for challenging samples.
  3. Milestone Launch: The collaboration debuted the THUNDER Imager Cell Spinning Disk system at the 2024 Society for Neuroscience meeting, marking a significant expansion in spinning disk microscopy.

CrestOptics, a manufacturer of microscopy solutions and advanced systems for fluorescence microscopy and diagnostic applications, announced the initiation of a collaboration with Leica Microsystems, a provider of microscopy and scientific instrumentation.

The partnership enables Leica Microsystems to offer CrestOptics’ CICERO spinning disk unit within its new THUNDER Imager Cell Spinning Disk system, bringing Leica Microsystems’ suite imaging technologies to customers in the spinning disk market for the first time.

The CICERO Spinning Disk Unit

Launched in April 20231, CICERO was developed to make high-end imaging accessible to the wider scientific community. The system’s design centres around the essential elements of epi-fluoresence and confocal microscopy, providing a highly compact and cost-effective solution for powerful imaging applications, for which it was recognized as part of Microscopy Today’s Top 10 Best Microscopy Innovations Awards in July 20242. Using CICERO, users can seamlessly transition between widefield and confocal imaging as required, allowing for deeper insights into subjects ranging from large cell monolayers to complex 3D structures, as well as the capture of fast cellular events such as chromosome segregation and organelle trafficking.

Merging Technologies: Leica Microsystems and CrestOptics

By combining Leica Microsystems’ proprietary THUNDER platform with CrestOptics’ CICERO spinning disk unit, the partnership provides a wider range of options and technologies for customers working with challenging large and 3D samples, according to the companies. The integration brings together THUNDER’s proprietary computational clearing technology, which enhances image quality, with the new intelligent automation of the DMi8 microscope. 

This includes features such as the automated sample finder for quick, focused overviews, and adaptive immersion technology that maintains optimal focus, seamlessly switching between low magnification dry overview and water high-resolution views. Furthermore, the system’s SmartCORR optimizes objective settings in real-time, making it easy to acquire precise, reproducible data in 3D live cell imaging. Together, these innovations help to streamline and significantly improve workflows for more effective data generation.

“Leica Microsystems provide a wide array of unique and powerful solutions for the imaging market, including the THUNDER platform, Adaptive Immersion and many more,” says Renato Giacobbo Scavo, CEO, CrestOptics. “By partnering with Leica, we are helping to bring these solutions to the spinning disk microscopy market for the first time, allowing customers to leverage the benefits of these technologies in parallel with CICERO’s confocal imaging capabilities for high resolution imaging of large, often challenging, 3D samples.”

The THUNDER Imager Cell Spinning Disk was launched at the Society for Neuroscience’s 2024 annual meeting, held Oct. 5-9, 2024. 

“As the spinning disk microscopy market continues to grow rapidly, the launch of this new system is a crucial milestone for us,” says James O’Brien, VP of Life Sciences and Applied Solutions, Leica Microsystems. “CrestOptics’ CICERO provided the ideal route to incorporate spinning disk capabilities within our THUNDER platform bringing both power and simplicity. We’re pleased to offer this new solution to our customers, that will allow them to combine the benefits of spinning disk microscopy with our range of cutting-edge technologies, for advanced imaging of complex samples.”

Featured image: CrestOptics’ CICERO spinning disk unit. Photo: CresOptics

References:

  1. Press Release (03 April, 2023): CrestOptics launches CICERO system to provide all-in-one solution for widefield and spinning disk confocal microscopy
  2. Press Release (29 July, 2024): CrestOptics’ CICERO spinning disk confocal system receives Top 10 Best