Opera High Content Screening System

Opera

The Opera™ is the premier confocal microplate imaging reader, providing solutions for fully automated simultaneous high speed and high resolution screening. The Opera serves an increasing demand in drug discovery and high throughput biology.


The combination of superior resolution and speed of operation with our fully flexible image analysis software, Acapella™, ensures high potential for assay development and the industrial screening process. The high resolution is achieved by using confocal imaging and water immersion lenses. Simultaneous image acquisition and data processing ensures that results are obtained as quickly as possible. Applications include cell screening at sub-cellular resolution level as well as bead based screening applications - from conventional plate formats to nanoplate scale.


With its outstanding throughput, the Opera is ideally suited to be combined with automation technology. We provide a number of solutions ranging from robotic plate handling to dedicated high throughput and high content screening systems, such as the cell::explorer.

Features include:

  • Point-scan confocal imaging - reliable detection of sub-cellular features and suppression of background noise.
  • Nipkow spinning disk technology - high speed confocal imaging, low photobleaching and low phototoxicity.
  • Proprietary fully automated water immersion objectives - Superior signal-to-noise, significant reduction in exposure time.
  • Three high power diode lasers - high flexibility for simultaneous excitation of fluorescence dyes.
  • Laser-based autofocus - reliable and ultra-fast focusing of cellular samples independent from fluorescence signals, well defined imaging positions at specific distances from sample carrier bottom.
  • Peltier-cooled CCD camera detectors - high sensitivity imaging.
  • Up to four detection channels - simultaneous multi color imaging, up to four colors in parallel for multi-parameter readout and multiplexing, highest data acquisition rates.
  • Distributed computing for image analysis - online evaluation of images, highest data processing rates.
  • Variable magnification with fully automated water immersion and air objectives - free choice of assay resolution and plate.
  • Acapella as on-board solution - comprehensive and fully flexible image analysis software with an open software architecture for user-defined applications.

Options:

  • Non-confocal UV - additional channel for optimal excitation of UV nuclear dyes.
  • Environmental control of temperature, CO2 and humidity - optimal conditions for live-cell applications.
  • On-board dispenser, independent movement of dispenser head and scanning table and software for nested dispense-and-read protocols - unique opportunity for high throughput kinetic applications.
  • Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) version - High Content Screening using probes with fluorescence lifetime in the nanosecond range for molecular interaction and FRET approaches.

 

 

Product Support

Related Products

Application Examples


Whole cell fluorescence assays

Stem cell
  • Cell viability
  • Cell differentiation
  • Cell proliferation
  • Cytotoxicity
  • Apoptosis
  • Transporter phenomena


Cell signaling assays

  • Second messengers
  • Ion channels/Membrane potential


Gene expression assays

  • Expression of house-keeping as well as reporter genes
  • Gene acitivity and protein regulation
  • RNAi screens


Membrane receptor assays

  • Ligand binding
  • Receptor activation and desensitization
  • Translocation and endocytosis
  • Recruitment of signaling molecules


Translocation assays

  • Target molecule redistribution


Morphological assays

Neurite outgrowth
  • Neurite outgrowth
  • Cell differentiation
  • Cell adhesion and spreading


Immunochemical assays

  • Bead-based homogeneous Antigen-antibody interactions


 

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