Mutimodal Holographic Microscope : Q-PHASE
The Q-PHASE is a unique instrument for quantitative phase imaging (QPI) based on patented technology of Coherence-controlled holographic microscopy. The Q-PHASE is purposely designed to observe living cells in vitro.
- No image artifacts such as halo effect (as opposed to techniques based on Zernike phase contrast illumination)
- Enables very precise detection of cell boundaries
- Strong suppression of coherent noise (speckles) & parasitic interferences (as opposed to laser-based approaches)
- Label-free – no staining is needed, simple sample preparation, observation of live cells in their native environment, no photobleaching problems
- Low phototoxicity – low light power density (107× lower than fluorescence microscopy) allows long-term observations (for days)
- Coherence-gating effect – Q-PHASE special feature enabling to observe samples even in scattering media (phospholipid emulsions, extracellular matrices, etc.)
- Multimodality – fully integrated fluorescence module, simulated DIC and brightfield which enables automatic multimodal imaging of the sample
- High-quality QPI – unique Q-PHASE’s optical setup allows using incoherent illumination which provides extraordinary imaging quality without any compromises
- Lateral resolution of conventional microscopes (up to 2× better when compared to common laser-based approaches or pinhole spatial filtering based techniques)
- Fast acquisition – the use of off-axis holographic approach makes Q-PHASE a single-shot instrument, thus enabling imaging of very fast cell dynamics
- Full motorization – focusing, sample stage, objective exchange, fluorescence filters
- Automated multidimensional acquisition – time-lapse, channel, position, Z-stack
- Simple image segmentation and processing – comparable to fluorescence data processing
- Quantitative – phase values can be recalculated e.g. to cell dry-mass density (pg/μm2) or direct topography with nanometer sensitivity (usually non-biological samples with homogeneous refractive index distribution)
- High phase detection sensitivity – enables to detect even the smallest changes in axial direction, very sensitive detection of morphology or position changes
Fluorescence module
The Q-PHASE can combine holographic microscopy with the fluorescence microscopy. This powerful combination provides the possibility to verify structures or processes observed in QPI with fluorescence microscopy in the same field of view using a single instrument. For example, morphological and position changes prior to cell death can be observed in QPI with following fluorescence verification of cell death types. This approach greatly reduces the phototoxicity and photobleaching problems of fluorescence imaging and it allows long-term observations.The focus plane in both methods is located at the same position. This allows easy and fast switching between the two imaging methods at the same conditions and time points. Multiple fluorescence channels are possible with motorized channel exchange for automated multidimensional measurements.The illumination can be implemented by using liquid light guide coupled solid state light sources or a xenon arc lamp. Multidimensional image acquisition combining holography and fluorescence is fully integrated in the Q-PHASE’s software. A fluorescence module is attached to the side port of the Q-PHASE, which can alternatively be used for other imaging techniques.
Fluorescence module attached to the side port
Microscope incubator
Maintains constant temperature – suitable conditions for long-term live cell imaging. Computer temperature setting and temperature data logging.
Piezo-focusing insert for precise focusing (500 µm travel range)
Control panel with multifunctional touchscreen, sample stage joystick and rotary knobs
 Extracellular Matrix |
 QPI of Rat healthy cell |
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 QPI of rat sarcoma cell mitosis (inverted LUT, contrast enhanced by adaptive contrast control method) |
 QPI of human adipocytes |
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 QPI of human breast cancer cells |
 QPI of olive leaf trichomes |
 Fluorescence image of human prostate cancer cells (SYTO 16) |
For Support Service
Contact Details:
Tel. : (91-22) 2500 2631/ 2500 2632 Fax : (91-22) 2500 2636
