Easier Microdissection With Less Contamination

A new, easy-to-use laser microdissection system reduces sample handling and contamination when isolating cells for downstream analysis in routine applications.

The Olympus (Hamburg, Germany) SmartCut is fully integrated with the inverted Olympus CKX41 microscope. A compact, stand-alone, optical-based dissection instrument, the Olympus SmartCut utilizes a high-precision solid state ultraviolet (UV) laser. The system is supplied fully preset and ready to use. It is capable of isolating groups of cells, single cells, and cell compartments for molecular analyses of both fixed and living cells. Ideal for pathology, forensic medicine, or teaching, the system needs only to be turned on and the lab worker can begin cutting.

The picosecond laser is controlled by intuitive software, which also enables cells and components to be identified down the microscope, marked, and extracted without extensive isolation procedures. Cutting accuracy is assured by the solid-state, diode-pumped 355nm UV laser, which is focused through the Olympus UIS2 objective to a beam spot of less than 1µm.

Specimens are mounted on a membrane-covered frame and a standard glass slide is placed below. Samples are isolated in a microcentrifuge tube using CapLift technology. It is easy to focus on the sample, stuck to the adhesive cap of the tube, to confirm the efficiency of the isolation process and for identification purposes. The tube is then closed to keep samples for protein, DNA, or RNA extraction.

SmartCut software enables precise identification of areas to be excised, has full control of the laser, and stores all relevant data and pictures of the isolation process.





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