Particle Analyzer from Carl Zeiss further enhanced

JENA/Germany, STUTTGART/Germany, 05.05.2009. Carl Zeiss has further enhanced the microscope- based analysis and documentation system Particle Analyzer for industrial quality inspection. New software features guarantee optimum reproducibility of results, easier operation and improved functionality. The system can be flexibly used and is suitable not only for particle analysis, but also for the documentation of defects, materials analysis and biomedical applications. Emphasis is given to the determination of technical purity on the basis of directives and standards, e.g. in the automobile industry. However, the spectrum of applications also includes porosity measurements of surfaces and analyses of pharmaceutical products.

Newly implemented special functions for particle recognition and typification enable fully automatic measurement. The system identifies particles without any interaction by the user. Subsequent typification, e.g. based on reflecting and non- reflecting particles and fibers, has also been optimized. Manual correction is thus no longer necessary. Some microscope components specially developed for particle analysis now also make it possible to fully motorize stereomicroscopes in the SteREO Discovery line.

The accurate reproducibility and optical quality of the systems is determined by the latest generations of light and stereomicroscopes from Carl Zeiss. Motorized accuracy ensures that the complete instrument configuration can be correctly restored for a certain measuring task – which markedly improves the reproducibility of the results. Consistent quality of the measuring results can thus be guaranteed, regardless of the user.

A particle standard, optionally also certified, and special specimen holders are available for system calibration, e.g. for filter membranes with a diameter of up to 50 mm.

The familiar directives and standards, e.g. VDA Volume 19/ISO 16232, ISO 4406, have been implemented for the evaluation of the measuring results. Company-specific standards can also be easily implemented, and it is also possible to meet demands outside the standards. New motorized polarization components optimize automatic differentiation between reflecting and non-reflecting particles. The directives of the US Food and Drug Administration can be implemented for applications in the pharmaceutical industry and medical technology in particular.

Carl Zeiss offers two system classes, the SteREO Discovery line and the Axio Imager line of upright microscopes. The two lines include both a manual and a fully motorized version. If requested, existing microscope systems can be retrofitted into a particle analyzer.

Carl Zeiss has further enhanced the Particle Analyzer for industrial quality inspection. New software features guarantee optimum reproducibility of results, easier operation and improved functionality.