CENTER VALLEY, Pa. and HAMBURG, Germany, August 3, 2011 – The VS120 virtual microscopy slide scanning system from Olympus scans faster than ever before, offers image deconvolution/deblurring for ultra-sharp images and provides important new fluorescence imaging capabilities. Virtual slide creation could not be simpler—just set the slide in place and press Start. The system creates outstanding brightfield slide scans up to three times faster than was possible with earlier systems, making it ideal for training, education, archiving and research.
The VS120 is the latest in a series of Olympus virtual microscopy systems that can scan up to 100 slides at a time at very high fidelity, so that users anywhere in the world can view and fully navigate high-resolution images of entire microscope slides or slide areas using a computer. It comes equipped with a 5-megapixel CCD brightfield camera that improves brightfield scanning speeds while delivering superb color reproduction and ultra-high resolution.
Olympus is a world leader in fluorescence microscopy, and no other virtual microscopy system available today can match the fluorescence slide scanning performance of the VS120.
Acquiring sharp images at multiple depths using six or more fluorescence labels is possible, thanks to Olympus Fluorescence Virtual-Z™ capability. The software adjusts for the potentially different focal positions of various wavelengths in multichannel acquisition. Automated batch scanning can be accommodated with fluorescence samples and individual shading correction is available for each color channel. In addition, the VS120 provides for online deblurring during fluorescence acquisition, which vastly improves image sharpness in real time.
“The VS120 provides users with the exceptional optical performance and reliability people have come to expect from Olympus, which is renowned for both research microscopy and pathology imaging,” said Brad Burklow, director of business development for the Olympus America Scientific Equipment Group.
In addition to its faster scan speeds, the system offers more than 30 software enhancements. No-neighbor and nearest-neighbor deconvolution are available offline and a wide range of measurement and annotation functions are supported. Images can now be saved in .tiff and .btf file formats, along with the .vsi virtual slide file format. To support users working simultaneously with images from the Nanozoomer virtual microscopy scanning system, the .ndpi file format is supported.
The VS120 is built around the Olympus renowned optical and microscope technologies. For superior optical performance and scanning flexibility, Olympus Plan Apo 2x, 10x, 20x and 40xobjectives come as standard, with optional 60x and 100x Plan Apo oil objectives for high-magnification oil immersion scanning.
For more information on the VS120 virtual microscopy slide scanning system in North America, phone 1-800-446-5967; visit www.olympusamerica.com/vs120 or email [email protected]. In Europe, contact Katja Ansmann, Marketing Communications Manager, Tel: +49 40 2 37 73 – 5913; email [email protected]
About Olympus America Inc., Scientific Equipment Group
Olympus America Scientific Equipment Group provides innovative microscope imaging solutions for researchers, doctors, clinicians and educators. Olympus microscope systems offer unsurpassed optics, superior construction and system versatility to meet the ever-changing needs of microscopists, paving the way for future advances in life science.
About Olympus
Olympus is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering innovative solutions in its core business areas: Medical and Surgical Products, Life Science Imaging Systems, Industrial Measurement and Imaging Instruments and Cameras and Audio Products. Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and affiliates worldwide to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:
- Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
- Advanced research, clinical and educational microscopes and research and educational digital imaging systems;
- Industrial research, engineering, test, inspection and measuring instruments; and
- Digital cameras and voice recorders.
Olympus serves the healthcare field with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers to efficiently, reliably and more easily achieve exceptional results. Olympus develops breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality for the consumer and professional photography markets, and also is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.
Olympus, VS and Virtual-Z are trademarks or registered trademarks of Olympus Corporation, Olympus America Inc. and/or their affiliates.
Nanozoomer is a trademark or registered trademark of Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
In the U.S., Olympus VS120 products are not intended for clinical diagnostic use.