Microscopy, Micromechanics, Image analysis

The combination of microscopy, micromechanical tests and specialised imaging techniques creates an interface between real microstructures and the virtual realm. The CLSM (confocal laser scanning microscope) for example is capable of rendering diatoms in four dimensions down to a resolution of less than 200 nm. Calibrated micro-pipettes equipped micromanipulators in combination with a high-speed camera allow for the measurements of smallest forces in micro-crush-tests, a technique recently expanded by a micro-force sensor that directly maps forces in the experiments.

The combined data are subsequently fed into computer simulations and used to abstract and validate bionic-inspired lightweight structures. In addition to the microscopes, stereo lenses with attached colour cameras help us to isolate and analyse diatoms (eg. derived from net hauls on our doorstep).

All in all, the following tools and methods are applied to plankton research:

Equipment

  • Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope FV-10i
  • Inverted Microscope Zeiss AxioObserver A1, with two optional Sutter Instruments MPC-285 Micromanipulators
  • Femtotools FT-RS1002 Microrobotic System with Microforcesensors
  • Fastcam-X 1024 PCI High-Speed Cam (1000fps/fullframe bis 109500fps)
  • Micropipette-Puller Sutter P97
  • De Fonbrune Microforge
  • Binocular-Microscope Olympus SZX10 w/ ColorView Kamera
  • Binocular-Microscope Olympus SZX12
  • Binocular-Microscope Olympus SZX16 w/ XC10 Camera and MW Tango USB motorised z-stage

Methods

  • Various fluorescence staining techniques for CLSM analysis
  • 3D Imaging, -analysis and -export via Bitplane Imaris®
  • Custom ade micropipettes for micro-crush-tests
  • Curve tracing of forces at pressure-/micro-crush-tests by Femtotools FT-RS1002 microrobotic system
  • High-speed imaging (1000fps@1024x1024px, 109.500fps@128x16px) at the Zeiss Axioobserver A1 inverted microscope, up to 1000x magnification
  • 3D surfacereconstruction with the Olympus SZX16 and motorised Z-stage

Feel free to contact us for any questions regarding methods, equipment or co-operations.