Compact spinning disk confocal microscope

The Faculty of Medicine started a direct procurement to purchase of a compact bench-top spinning disk confocal microscope suitable for live cell imaging in a regular lab setting.

The Andor BC43 CF Benchtop Confocal Microscope with Super-resolution is the only instrument on the market that meets all the specific and necessary technical requirements to fulfil the uncompromising needs of the acquiring department as follows: • A compact bench-top spinning disk confocal microscope suitable for live cell imaging in a regular lab setting with lights on, where the imaging system does not allow light to enter. The primary aim is on space-saving, ease of integration and the ability to fit on a standard bench in a lab where several lab members will use the device daily. The size of the device must be such that it will fit on a regular lab bench with a depth of 70 cm in a wet lab setting, where it will be installed. It must not overhang the bench and encroach on the aisle space. The system must also be sufficiently stable to withstand vibrations from a vortex mixer located beside the imaging device on the same bench without introducing noise during imaging. This stability could for example be ensured with built-in dampening. • Suitable for the primary use which is sensitive time-lapse imaging of fluorescently tagged proteins in cells where avoiding phototoxicity is paramount. For this reason, the imaging device must utilize a spinning disk combined confocal with high sensitivity detection and a focus assist option that uses the vessel surface as a reference point in order to minimize light exposure. Importantly it must be temperature stable allowing long time-lapse imaging >48 without thermal drift. It must acquire a large and evenly illuminated field of view >1.8mm diagonal with 10x objective and must incorporate 4 lasers: with excitation lines 405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 638nm. • The device must support the use of existing Nikon silicone immersion objectives including long working distance lenses. • The software must incorporate Imaris Analysis software directly in the workflow and be able to output the data in “*.ims” format. This is essential to comply with ongoing image analysis steps and to reduce the handling time for data analysis. Finally, deconvolution software must be incorporated into the acquisition software enabling deconvolution on the fly, while image acquisition is taking place. According to the Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts (1397/2016) section 40 when only a certain supplier can implement the procurement for a technical reason, provided also that there are no reasonable alternatives or substitute solutions, and that the absence of competition is not due to an artificial narrowing of the terms and conditions of the procurement, the contract may be awarded only to a particular supplier, Contracting authorities may award public contracts by a direct award. Prior to making decision the Contracting authority has inspected the relevant markets and available products and after careful consideration found its' conclusion grounded. The Estimated price is 267,500.00 euros (VAT 0 %).