Atch_1_-_Salient_Characteristics.pdf

Attachment 1 – Line Item 1

Salient Characteristics

The laser capture microscopy system will be used on RNA/DNA/Protein and living cell applications.

The system shall be mounted on an inverted microscope to better facilitate live cell applications, and configurable with fluorescence and contrast optics like DIC & phase.

The system shall be capable of functioning as a stand-a-lone analytical microscope with independent stage control and optional imaging software.

The system must include a motorized microscope stage to facilitate robotic laser micro-dissection and cell recovery for PCR and RT-PCR applications and single cell PCR.

The system shall have a specimen search and navigation conducted with high precision stage movement controllable to 128nm step size, while the laser projectory remains perpendicular to the stage movement.

The system shall have an encoded stage to offset backlash.

The system shall allow for dissected tissue retrieval with standard or adhesive micro-tubes making possible a significant cost savings in LCM consumables.

It shall be capable of performing micro-dissection and capture of tissue from membrane, non-membrane slides, and duplex dishes.

The microscope and laser capture system provided by a single manufacturer, making service and support more convenient and manageable.

The Laser cutting resolution to less than 1 micron with a 100x objective, making single cell and some sub-cellular extraction possible.

The software shall be application specific for automated laser micro-dissection and image archiving, including software control for laser focus, laser energy, and stage speed.

The system shall consist of a solid state UV laser with 355nm cutting laser wavelength which does not impair DNA, RNA and protein recovery.

The cell retrieval is accomplished by Laser Pressure Catapult method.

The system shall be able to perform cell retrieval from frozen sections, cytospins, PAP smears, paraffin sections, and touch preps.

The system shall be capable of cutting and extracting specimen from standard, charged, or membrane mounted slides.

The system shall be configurable to use a full range of objectives from 5x to 150x, with optional phase, DIC, Plas-DIC.

The system shall allow optional automation that permits dissection and cell retrieval from several regions of interest in multiple fields of view of a single slide or multiple slides.

The system shall perform automatic tissue recognition and identification with the optional pattern recognition software. Areas of interest can be identified using a virtually unlimited set of physical parameters, including, color, shape, size, intensity, morphology, contrast, etc.

The system shall be capable of using reference points to permit accurate extraction of similar regions of interest from a series of serial sections.

It shall be configurable with a choice of optional stage incubation systems to regulate live cell viability conditions, including CO2, humidity and thermal controls.

It shall be configurable with high resolution or high sensitivity imaging cameras to permit high level imaging and analysis.

It shall consist of a modular design to facilitate future upgrades and for retaining state of the art performance.

The system shall be able to be configured with other imaging technologies like tweezer applications, force measurement and select confocal apparatus to enhance the LCM system value and increase operational flexibility.