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We have been working on the automation of different types of optical
microscopes for about 8 years. We have put together two fully automated
systems for high-resolution image cytometry based on a motorized
microscope, a digital camera and a driving computer: one system
for 2D/3D wide-field imaging (described in Cytometry 36:279, 1999)
and another one for combined confocal and wide-field imaging
(described in Cytometry 45:1, 2001). I can provide PDFs or reprints.
The systems are also brielfy described on our laboratory web page
(http://www.fi.muni.cz/lom) and the topic of the automation
of image acquisition and analysis in cell studies is discussed
in Chapter 19 of the new book by Alberto Diaspro (that has already
been mentioned on this list several times).

In general there are 3 possibilities how to purchase a robotic scope:

A) The components are motorized by the microscope manufacturer
   e.g. Zeiss Axioplan, Leica DMRXA, etc.
B) The components are motorized by yourself using 3rd party products
   e.g. from Ludl, Maerzhauser, Prior, Physik Instrumente, etc.
C) The microscope manufacturer purchases the 3rd party products,
   puts the system together and provides you with a ready instrument

Often cases A and C can't be well distinguished because if a microsocpe
manufacturer buys a 3rd party product (such as a motorized stage),
then it may happen that you get this 3rd party product with a
different label so that the name of the 3rd party is hidden :-)

In cases A and C you pay more than in case B but you get a guarantee
for the whole system. If something goes wrong, then in cases A and C
you just call the microscope manufacturer. In case B you have to
find the faulty component yourself (though usually this is not a problem)
and call the supplier of this particular part. Also in case B
it may happen that when you purchase the microscope per partes
the individual components do not fit into each other. For example
in the case of filter wheels there are a lot of different
connection types (mounts) available. So you have to be very careful
when specifying the mount types for a 3rd party product. There
are even different mount types for different microscope models
of the same producer.

Another drawback of case B is software. Instead of one control window
you have several control windows and have to swicth between them.
If you want to write your own software for driving the individual parts
then you can program your own single control window but you have to
study several different manuals of different producers. In case A
it is easier because all components are usually driven using the
same command language (typically via single serial port) and
it is sufficient to study just one manual.

In spite of all these troubles I have to say that case B is feasible.
It takes time to put together all the specifications at the beginning
(and some time to develop your own driving software) but when you assemble
the robotic scope, then it works in the very same way as in case A.
Also the command languages or protocols are very similar for all 3rd
party products and a skilled programmer can cope with them
(and create some basic software) at the rate of about 2-3 days/manual.

Anyway, whichever case you choose, the currently available motorized
parts seem to be very reliable. So far, we have had no major problems
with any motorized parts of our microscopes. The only problem we have
had was overheating. If you place a lot of electronics into a closed
room (the smaller the worse) it may overheat (especially light sources
such as mercury lamps produce a lot of heat). Overheating causes
faults in electronics and you get error messages on monitor.
Therefore it is a very good idea to purchase a proper air conditioner
(not just a fan) for your robotic microscope.

One more advice: if you decide for case B, choose a well established
3rd party company such as one of the four mentioned above. Personally,
I have experience with Ludl, Maerzhauser and Physik Instrumente
and their products are really reliable (no commercial interest).
I guess Prior is at the same level. You can find more information
about their products on their web pages:

http://www.ludl.com
http://www.marzhauser.com
http://www.prior.com
http://www.physikinstrumente.com

If you need also commercial software for automated acquisition
(and have a lot of money :-), try:

Applied Imaging, UK (http://www.aii.co.uk)
Imstar, France (http://www.imstar.fr)
Loats Associates, USA (http://www.loats.com)
MetaSystems, Germany (http://www.metasystems.de)

In case of further questions, you can contact me at [log in to unmask]

Good luck,
Michal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michal Kozubek, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Optical Microscopy, Faculty of Informatics,
Masaryk University, Botanicka 68a, CZ-60200, Brno, Czech Republic
Tel/Fax/Ans: +420-5-41512467   E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Internet home page: http://www.fi.muni.cz/~kozubek



On Thu, 24 Jan 2002, Steve Taylor wrote:

> With all the recent bulletins concerning 'core facilities' I'd like to throw out a request, to those managing such facilities, for information on the pros and cons of available 'robotic' microscopes - i.e. that have motorised xyz stage, objective turret etc - with digital camera and deconvolution software.
> This microscope is envisaged as a companion to the existing 1024 system and epi-fluor that will become integrated into a Bio-imaging Unit in the near future.
> I'd be particularly interested in whether it is best to go down the road of major microscope manufactuers or look at specialist companies that provide a more bolt-on answear.
> Please reply directly to
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> my thanks for your time in advance
>
> Steve Taylor
> ------------------------------------------------
> Dr. S. Taylor
> CLSM Facility
> Institute of Biological Sciences
> Cledwyn Bldg.
> University of Wales
> Aberystwyth
> Ceredigion
> SY23 3DD
> UK
>
> +44 (0) 1970 621567
> +44 (0) 1970 622307 (fax)
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> http://users.aber.ac.uk/snt/
>
> -----------------------------------------------
>