IRBLleida has purchased a scanning confocal microscope to meet the high demand for this technology and expand its range of services

The Lleida Institute of Biomedical Research has purchased a Nikon AX.1 NSPARC scanning confocal microscope to meet the high demand on its existing equipment. Its installation will enable images to be captured more quickly thanks to the fact that it incorporates two scanners: a resonant scanner (very fast, capable of up to 720 fps) and a galvanometric scanner (slower but suitable for high-quality images). Furthermore, the equipment has a wide 25 mm field of view, which also increases acquisition speed, and is fitted with a NIR (near-infrared) excitation laser that will allow users to image with up to five different markers. It also features a silicone immersion objective for viewing fairly thick samples at very high resolution and incorporates a high-resolution detector (NSPARC) that will enable resolutions below the optical resolution limit, down to 100 nm.

The equipment, which costs over €400,000, has been funded through the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) under the 2022 call for applications for grants aimed at the acquisition of scientific and technical equipment and infrastructure, within the framework of the State Sub-programme for Scientific and Technical Infrastructure and Equipment of the Strategic Action in Health 2021–2023, funded by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), using Next Generation EU funds, which finance the actions of the Mechanism