PerkinElmer Introduces FRAP Capability For Its Advanced Confocal Live Cell Imaging System

PerkinElmer Inc. a global leader in Health Sciences and Photonics, today announced the expansion of its confocal imaging capabilities with the introduction of its PhotoKinesis™ accessory.

Representing a significant R&D advancement, PhotoKinesis was designed to enable Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) and similar techniques on PerkinElmer’s UltraVIEW® Live Cell Imaging systems. The accessory also introduces "Track-It," on-demand, photoactivation and photoswitching that provides users with greater control over their experiments and increased biologically relevant data from the samples they study.

"The introduction of the PhotoKinesis accessory affirms PerkinElmer’s solid commitment to the confocal microscopy market by bringing FRAP performance to a new level for use in live cell imaging, the fastest-growing segment of the market," said Mary Duseau, business leader for Detection and Analysis Systems, PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences.

Image Quality of Spinning Disk, FRAP Quality of Point Scanner
"Academic and non-profit research institutions asked for integrated FRAP capabilities with spinning disk technology to improve their ability to study fast-moving objects and rapid events in live cells with point-and-click ease," Duseau said. "PhotoKinesis in combination with UltraVIEW is an ideal live cell analysis solution."

UltraVIEW allows users to acquire high-speed, high-resolution, multi-dimensional images of live biological samples including cultured cells, tissues and embryos. The PhotoKinesis accessory further enhances the system’s imaging capability by providing a fully integrated system for studying cells and tissues.

Another key benefit, Duseau noted, is that the low levels of photobleaching present during imaging with UltraVIEW, cause less artifacts in FRAP, Fluorescence Loss in Photo Bleaching (FLIP) and other similar experiments. This leads to simpler and more accurate data interpretation.

Vital to Biomedical Research
FRAP, FLIP and photoswitching techniques are vital to biomedical research because they enable scientists to better understand the basic processes of cellular function and the cellular pathways of a particular disease. Researchers can study disease mechanisms for conditions such as neuro-degeneration, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. These techniques also enhance developmental studies and general cell biology applications.

The PhotoKinesis accessory will make its U.S. debut at the PerkinElmer booth at the Society for Neuroscience Conference in Atlanta, Oct. 14-17, 2006.

The PhotoKinesis accessory is available globally, with the exception of Japan, as either an upgrade to an existing UltraVIEW ERS or UltraVIEW RS system or it may be purchased with a new UltraVIEW ERS system.