Product

ZEISS Axio Observer for Life Science Research

Inverted Microscope Platform with AI Assisted Experiment Startup

In life sciences research you come up against new challenges every day. That’s why you want a flexible microscope system that can be tailored to your needs. ZEISS Axio Observer is your inverse platform for demanding multimodal imaging of living and fixed specimens. Combine Axio Observer with a wealth of technologies and refine it to support your experiments precisely.

Flexibility from widefield to super-resolution imaging
Unique guidance through your experiments
Efficient imaging thanks to a high degree of automation

Flexibility for Your Research

Life sciences research is a dynamic environment with ever-changing requirements. Axio Observer offers interfaces for technologies ranging from widefield transmitted light to convenient 3D sectioning and sensitive super-resolution imaging. Choose the optimal incubation equipment and enjoy easy sample access for precise micromanipulation. A great variety of integrated options makes your Axio Observer versatile and future proof.

Guidance for Your Workflows

Reduce the time to image from minutes to just seconds. You will be amazed how easy imaging becomes when the AI Sample Finder automatically detects the sample carrier, adjusts the focus, and finds your sample region. Wizards guide you through the experimental setup for easy and intuitive selection of the imaging modalities for your applications. Acquired images can be easily combined with electron microscopy data and other modalities.

Efficiency for Your Experiments

Expect a remarkable increase in efficiency with the Axio Observer automation functions. Fast switchable light sources and filters give you highest spectral flexibility and speed. Select the ideal camera to always get the image quality and speed your applications require. Whether keeping your sample in focus for long-term imaging or adapting your objective to your sample, it's all automatic with this highly organized system.

AI Sample Finder

Reduce your time to experiment from minutes to just seconds.

Automated Sample Identification for Efficient Imaging

Microscopes are becoming increasingly automated. However, sample placement, focus adjustment and identification of the relevant areas on the sample carrier still require manual steps. AI Sample Finder automates this sequence, eliminating time-consuming manual adjustments and reducing the time to image from minutes to just seconds.

Learn more about AI Sample Finder

Apotome 3

Create brilliant optical sections of your fluorescent samples.

Cortical neurons. Widefield. Courtesy of L. Behrendt, Leibniz-Institute on Aging – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut e.V. (FLI), Germany.

Cortical neurons. Apotome 3. Courtesy of L. Behrendt, Leibniz-Institute on Aging – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut e.V. (FLI), Germany.

Cortical neurons. Widefield (left) and Apotome 3 (right). Courtesy of L. Behrendt, Leibniz-Institute on Aging – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut e.V. (FLI), Germany.

Optical Sectioning Using Structured Illumination

With structured illumination, removal of out-of-focus light becomes simple and efficient. ZEISS Apotome 3 calculates your optical section from a number of images acquired with different grid positions. Get high-contrast images, even from thicker specimens, while your system remains just as easy to operate as always.

Learn more about Apotome 3

Autoimmersion Module

Automated, hands-free water immersion for reliable data acquisition from start to finish

Minimize Your Risk. Improve Your Efficiency.

Immersion media between the sample and the objective is required for high-resolution imaging. Manual addition of immersion media risks loss of data points or even microscope damage from user error; it is also tedious and inefficient. The Autoimmersion Module for ZEISS Axio Observer 7 widefield and confocal systems is your automated, easy-to-use solution for maintaining immersion media for water immersion objectives.

Learn more about the Autoimmersion Module

Accessories and Interfaces

Your Axio Observer microscope can be tailored specifically to dedicated applications, keeping the flexibility to grow in the future when requirements change.

ZEISS Axiocam portfolio

Select a microscope camera with the sensitivity, resolution, and imaging speed required for your applications.
Incubation solutions

Create the optimal environment for the most sensitive specimens. ZEISS incubation systems allow to combine different housings, incubators, and sample holders.
Keep your samples in focus

Definite Focus 3 compensates for focus drift. Even your most challenging multi-day, multi-position time-lapse experiments will yield sharp and high-contrast images.
Multicolor LED light source

The fast LED illumination systems Colibri 5 and 7 are the perfect choice for your fluorescence imaging, reducing cross-stimulation while increasing contrast and SNR.
White light LED light source

Xylis LED light source allows you to get a high and reproducible light output without warm-up times over the entire life span.
Advanced filter technology

Virtual filters allow a wealth of excitation and emission combinations with high excitation intensity and extremely fast switching times for fluorescence imaging.
Simultaneous spectral imaging

Use Duolink and ZEN imaging software to perform high-speed imaging with two spectrally separated channels simultaneously.
Autocorr objectives

Adjust the optics of the microscope to your sample, with a simple slider in ZEN imaging software. Expect crisp contrast even deep inside the specimen.

SK8 K18 Mouse Cells. Vimentin stained with Alexa 488 (green), nuclei stained with DAPI (blue).

ZEISS Axio Observer at Work

See more application examples

HEK 293 Cells

Long-term time lapse recording of 3 × 3 tiles with 240 s interval. Acquired with Axiocam 506 mono, stabilized by Definite Focus 3 at 10 s interval.

HeLa Cell Culture

HeLa cell culture with cytosolic eGFP. Proliferation imaged over 16 hours.

SK8 K18 Mouse Cells

Vimentin stained with Alexa 488 (green), nuclei stained with DAPI (blue).

Cortical Neurons

Cortical neurons stained for DNA, microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins. Courtesy: Leibniz-Institute on Aging – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut e.V. (FLI), Germany.

LLC PK1 Cells

Time lapse recording of undisturbed cell division.

Typical Applications

Typical Application	Typical Samples	Tasks
Label-free live cell cultures	Evaluate and document cell culture status	✓ PlasDIC contrast for high-resolution images through plastic vessels
		✓ Objective lenses with long working distance and correction rings to enhance contrast and resolution
		✓ Sample carriers and stages for large cell culture flasks
		✓ Large field of view imaging (field number: 23 mm)
Transfected live cell cultures	Evaluate and document transfection rate and transfection stability	✓ Gentle fluorescence excitation by Colibri 5 and Colibri 7
Label-free fixed and thin tissue slices or small organism	Document and evaluate cell and tissue morphology and growth state	✓ Optimized DIC for low magnification, high numerical aperture multi-immersion lenses
Reproductive or adherent cells and cell cultures	Mechanical manipulation of cells (e.g. injection of germ cells), injection of dyes and other biologically active substances	✓ Phase contrast, improved Hoffmann Modulation contrast (iHMC), DIC contrast
		✓ Support for micromanipulators from Narishige, Eppendorf and Luigs & Neumann
		✓ Heated microscope stages and mounting frames, heating inserts
Living neuronal or muscular cell culture or tissue slices	Observation of fast densitometric, ratiometric and electrical signals	✓ Water- and silicon oil immersion lenses
		✓ Apochromatic and UV-enhanced reflected-light illuminator
		✓ Double camera adapter Duolink
		✓ Highspeed filter wheels and shutters
		✓ Fast multicolor LED illumination with Colibri 5 and Colibri 7
		✓ High efficiency filter sets
		✓ Z-Piezo (500 µm) with large travel range
Fixed immunfluorescence labelled tissue or cell culture samples	Identification, quantification and qualification of cell types, cell-, tissue and protein markers in 2D and 3D samples	✓ Definite Focus 3
		✓ Dual filter wheel
		✓ Apotome 3
		✓ Piezo stage for high speed, high precision XY positioning
		✓ Various mounting frames for different sample carriers
Multi-labelled living tissue section, organs, organotypic-, spheriod or cell culture preparations	Long-term observation of physiological and morphological parameters in 2D / 3D	✓ Autocorr objective lenses
		✓ Definite Focus 3
		✓ Special objectives for incubation
		✓ Life cell imaging objectives
		✓ Long distance objectives
		✓ Water and silicone oil immersion objectives
		✓ Aqua Stop II
		✓ Incubation, CO₂ and O₂ control
		✓ Camera adapter for large field of view imaging (field number: 23 mm)
		✓ Colibri 5 and Colibri 7
Microbiomes, bacteria and yeast cultures	Identification and characterization of cell wall, cell cycle and host-parasite interaction	✓ C-Apochromat 100 × / 1.25 W Corr Plan
Microbiomes, bacteria and yeast cultures		✓ APOCHROMAT 150 × / 1.35 Glyc Corr DIC

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