Rapp OptoElectronic GmbH | Sutter Instrument - Movable Objective Microscope® (MOM®) Two- and Three-Photon Microscope

The Movable Objective Microscope® (MOM®) is a two-photon microscope designed for imaging deep within living specimens when paired with a femtosecond Laser. The MOM's unique design offers three-dimensional objective movement and rotation, allowing the specimen to remain stationary. Widely used by esteemed imaging laboratories worldwide, the Sutter MOM undergoes continuous refinement to adapt to evolving research needs.

Opto-mechanical Design

The MOM comprises two independent microscopes. The wide-field section includes an Olympus vertical illuminator, LED illumination, and a camera mount for standard epifluorescence. The two-photon section guides the excitation laser light from the table up to the scanning mirrors. The beam then expands through the scan lens and directs into the back of the objective. Following two-photon excitation, emitted photons pass through a dichroic mirror above the objective into the detection pathway. The main body of the microscope moves backward on a rail system, providing easy specimen access before imaging.

The objective translates in X, Y, and Z axes, with additional rotation around the Y axis. Two moving mirrors ensure efficient delivery of excitation light to the objective's back aperture, irrespective of movement or orientation. Utilizing the same X, Y, and Z movements as Sutter’s MP-285 micromanipulator guarantees smooth, fine-scale, drift-free, and highly reproducible movements. These capabilities facilitate acquiring Z-stacks and mosaic images of extensive tissue regions without requiring a moving stage.

Scanning Systems

Over the last decade, scanning technology has undergone significant changes, with objectives requiring larger beam sizes and advancements in scanner technology, particularly the introduction of reliable resonant scanners. Unlike other two-photon microscope designs, the MOM has adapted to these changes. Sutter adheres to two principles: upgrading existing scopes to new technology as it becomes available and supplying original designs if needed for ongoing research. The MOM is available in various configurations, including 5 mm conventional Galvo-Galvo scanning MOM or a Resonant-Galvo as well as latest Resonant-Galvo-Galvo scanning MOM, all competitively priced.

The MOM offers four different detector path designs, including the original two-channel pentagon, which can transform into a four-channel detector path. The Short Path and the Wide Path designs increase the likelihood of capturing ballistic photons by placing the first collection lens closer to the objective's back aperture (Short Path) or using a larger aperture collection lens and dichroic with up to two inch optics (Wide Path). Sutter MOM packages include all necessary equipment for a complete imaging system, excluding the femtosecond laser and objective.

Features:

• Objective moves 22 mm in X, Y, and Z
• Objective rotates about the optical axis for imaging non-horizontal surfaces and volumes
• Customizable open platform design
• Galvo-Galvo, Resonant-Galvo or Resonant-Galvo-Galvo Scanner available
• Two or four-channel detector system with Hamamatsu PMTs and preamplifiers
• Sutter PS-2/PS-2LV dual-channel PMT power supply
• MBF Bioscience vDAQ data acquisition system and ScanImage microscope control software

Applications:

• In vivo two-photon and three-photon imaging
• Electrophysiological recording and imaging (culture, large in vivo preparations, etc.)
• Non-horizontal surface microscopy
• Simultaneous retinal stimulation and multi-photon microscopy
• Whole animal imaging
• Immunology
• Embryology

Software:

The MOM® has always been compatible with ScanImage microscope control software, the two-photon imaging software running in Matlab and developed by Karel Svoboda and collaborators. One of the reasons the MOM platform exists in its present form is the strong support from the ScanImage community. In 2014, Vidrio became the principal vendor for support and new developments of ScanImage. The company was acquired by MBF Bioscience in 2021.

Rapp is glad to make ScanImage Basic and Premium available to customers who wish premium support and the latest features. Rapp provides packages that include the necessary data acquisition hardware to couple the MOM and other scanning microscopes to ScanImage Basic, or Premium.

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