The DeltaVision OMX system is based on the OMX microscopy system developed by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and exclusively licensed to Applied Precision. The DeltaVision|OMX system solves two fundamental limitations that have frustrated scientists, spatial and temporal resolution. DeltaVision OMX overcomes spatial resolution limits by using 3D-SIM true structured illumination technology invented by a UCSF team led by Drs. Sedat, Agard, and Gustafsson that doubles the optical resolution of light microscope. Equally important, DeltaVision|OMX also overcomes speed limitations for cellular imaging by using novel electronics and optics developed by the same team at UCSF.

The DeltaVision OMX-SR  system solves two fundamental limitations that have frustrated scientists, spatial and temporal resolution. DeltaVision OMX overcomes spatial resolution limits by using 3D-SIM true structured illumination technology invented by a UCSF team led by Drs. Sedat, Agard, and Gustafsson that doubles the optical resolution of light microscope. The DeltaVision OMX-SR  system  uses custom monochrome 20 MHz cameras with Sony ICX285 ER progressive scan CCD’s.  An API certifi ed Olympus Plan-Apo 60X, 1.42 NA PSF “A” quality objective lens for optimal 3D imaging performance is employed at the heart of the system.  The system is fully upgradeable to the OMX system specifications to add super-fast live cell imaging capabilities.

What is super-resolution?
In conventional microscope systems, image resolution is limited by the angle of light that can successfully traverse the light path and enter the objective lens. While objectives can be built with very high numerical apertures, a limit is reached when light can no longer cross the interfaces between different refractive indices. At this point, Brewster’s angle is achieved and additional light and information (resolution) do not make it into the objective lens. This angle ultimately limits the resolution of all microscope systems. Once this limit is reached, a system is said to be diffraction limited. Super-Resolution is loosely defined as the ability for an imaging system to exceed this limit driven by physics and the wavelength of light and provide resolutions that are significantly better than the diffraction limit described above.

Applied Precision has led the way over the past fifteen years in empowering scientists to fully exploit this limit with image restoration (deconvolution) microscopy. The DeltaVision Core and personalDV Microscopy Systems improve resolution by approx 15-20% and contrast ten fold. In recent years, new methods have been developed to surpass the diffraction limit. These methods allow precise visualization and measurement of features that are less than one-half of the size of those seen with conventional microscopy. This improvement of resolution by a factor of 2 or more is how Applied Precision defines super-resolution microscopy.