Flexible Microscope on a Boom

A new microscope can scan and enlarge the image of objects of almost any size or shape. Even non-planar objects can be observed at high magnification, due to a novel scanning boom that overcomes the limitation of viewing only small flat objects on glass slides.

This new all-digital system, called the VersaCAM, can view and perform analysis of scanned imagery from samples that would not fit on the stage of a typical microscope. Designed and manufactured by JMAR Technologies (San Diego, CA, USA), the VersaCAM uses a precisely controlled boom to position a fast scanning, computer-aided microscope (CAM) that auto-focuses from a starting distance of over 14 inches down to an optimal viewing position in nanometer increments.

Compared to traditional scanning microscopes, the scanning boom design offers the better portability required to produce close-up images of 3-dimensional (3D) objects, even outside the lab or in a remote field setting. The VersaCAM fills the roles of several different microscopes. It can be set up for traditional top-down viewing, for bottom-up viewing of slides, or even for imaging large-material sciencific, medical, or forensic specimens. Specialty software assembles high-magnification scanned images into a single, large-area low-magnification macro-scale mosaic. CAM controls allow the operator to zoom into any part of the mosaic to capture a desired image.

"We have applied our expertise in robotics, optics, and ultra-precise positioning and alignment to create a highly versatile computer-aided microscope,” said Ron Walrod, president and CEO of JMAR. "This microscope can be used just about anywhere for close-up inspection of almost anything.”






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JMAR Technologies