The disruptive technology in GAIA provides more than double the field of view in the sample plane compared to its predecessor. Consequently, GAIA enables super resolution imaging over a large FOV and using a wide range of objectives (30X -100X). For the best images high NA objectives are a must.

Our flagship GAIA λ has a switchable pinhole, ensuring flexibility, sensitivity and optimal confocality.

Nyquisting every objective and adding fast multicolour imaging over a large FOV gives raise to the most light-efficient super resolution confocal system on the market.

Here’s the layout of a standard laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM):

From the detector signal at each position, an image of the sample is calculated.

For GAIA, our revolutionary new Point REscan confocal, we added bespoke optical elements before and after the pinhole. This provides the improvement of resolution beyond the diffraction limit while increasing the effective field of view (FOV).

As an added value, we introduced a motorized switchable pinhole that enables perfect confocality for a wide range of objectives (4X-100X). For proper super resolution, one should use high NA objectives.

In GAIA, we took a different approach. Here, we are making the spot smaller instead of the image larger by using bespoke optical elements before and after the pinhole.

At the same time, we are retaining 1.4x resolution improvement.

In addition, we gain more than double the FoV in the sample plane as well as an improvement in speed.

Without rescanning, one needs to close the pinhole pretty far, to only let the center of the spot through. 

The rest of the light comes from a different position in the sample. If you collect all of it at once, you lose resolution.

If the light is REscanned on the camera, each part of the spot automatically ends up in the correct pixel.

And the pinhole can stay wide open, so we collect more light

 A pinhole serves to block the out-of-focus light. In practice, a pinhole size between 1 and 2 Airy units (1-2x times as large as the spot) gives the best images.

If the pinhole is smaller, the signal is sacrificed. If it is larger, confocality is lost.

WIth a motorized pinhole switch, we are ensuring optimal confocality for a wide range of objectives (4x-100X).

Our Point REscans can be mounted on pretty much any microscope body. Adding a camera and a laser gives rise to fully equipped confocal Super resolution microscope. Because it does not need a high laser power, it has a very low phototoxicity, making it perfectly suite for live cell imaging.