The New Leica TCS STED CW for a Wide Range of Applications in Cell Research and Neuroscience

Bannockburn, IL. The new superresolution system Leica TCS STED CW made its successful début in December 2009 at the 49th annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in San Diego. Scientists who received product demonstrations were convinced by the progressive technology in life science research.

The Leica TCS STED CW is easy to use, highly affordable and available as an upgrade for already installed confocal systems. The Leica TCS STED CW combines the high-end confocal Leica TCS SP5 with a patented optical and superresolution technology that is characterized by its capability of high speed scanning on the nanoscale. The Leica TCS STED CW can be used with standard fluorescent dyes and proteins, making it compatible with a wide range of applications.

The STED CW system is based on Leica’s established STED technology, which has received several awards. STED scales down the scanning spot to sub-diffraction size by switching off fluorescence in the periphery of the excited area. Stimulated emission is based on fine optics and photo physical processes to deliver superresolution in a purely optical method on a confocal platform.

Continuous wave lasers for depletion increase the STED recording speed up to three times without any loss of superresolution performance. Researchers can now follow dynamic processes with less than 80nm spatial resolution!

Leica Microsystems’ superresolution microscope Leica TCS STED CW is made for daily research and provides a wealth of tailored solutions for specific applications and research environments. The workflow, which was designed in cooperation with leading scientists, and the easy operation of the system make superresolution accessible to a broad field of research.

Leica Microsystems is a leading global designer and producer of innovative, high-tech, precision optical systems for the analysis of microstructures. It is one of the market leaders in each of its business areas: Microscopy, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy with corresponding Imaging Systems, Specimen Preparation, and Medical Equipment. The company manufactures a broad range of products for numer­ous applications requiring microscopic imaging, measurement, and analysis. It also offers system solu­tions for life science including biotechnology and medicine, research and development of raw materials, and industrial quality assurance. The company is represented in over 100 countries with 11 manufac­turing facilities in 8 countries, sales and service organizations in 19 countries and an international net­work of dealers. The international management is headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany.