Leica Stellaris
Leica’s next‑generation Stellaris was launched in November 2024 and installed at MIC in March 2025, and it was funded through the NRC NALMIN II infrastructure. This is a high‑end point‑scanning confocal microscope with spectral detection. It is highly flexible and accommodates a wide range of applications.
System spesifications
Lasers
White light laser (WLL, 1.5 mW per line) and a 405 nm diode laser (50 mW). The WLL covers 440–790 nm, enabling excitation into the near‑infrared (NIR), thereby expanding the fluorophore range while maintaining good spectral separation.
Detectors
Five detectors, which is the maximum number allowed: 3 HyD S, 1 HyD X, and 1 HyD R
Objectives
M/NA= magnification/numerical aperture, WD = working distance
- 5x /0.15 HC PL Fluotar Air WD 13.7 mm
- 10x/0.40 HC PL APO CS2 Air WD 2.56 mm
- 20x/0.75 HC PL APO CS2 Air WD 0.62 mm
- 20x/0.75 HC PL APO CS2 IMM Water/Glyc/Oil WD 0.680 mm
- 40x/1.25 HC PL Apo CS2 Glyc Corr WD 0.35 mm
- 40x/1.10 HC PL APO CS2 Water MotCorr WD 0.62 mm
- 63x/1.4 HC PL APO CS2 Oil WD 0.14 mm
Navigator software module and Fluorescent camera
The camera enables rapid overview (tile scan) imaging via the Navigator, making it easy to examine tissue sections and identify areas of interest without using the ocular. It is also effective for detecting rare events in cell cultures. In addition, Navigator streamlines acquisition by allowing multiple confocal z-scans to be defined at different positions and automatically captured in sequence without supervision. The motorized (Super Z Galvo Stage Type H) allows tile scans and multipoint acquisition at high precision.
Lightning module
Lightning enables high resolution imaging and image enhancement by adaptive deconvolution.
Spectraplex software module
Facilitates the setup, acquisition, and analysis of up to 15 fluorophores simultaneously within the same sample.
TauScence and fluorescent lifetime imaging (FLIM)
FLIM-based information is used instead of regular spectral separation to separate fluorophores, which can be used to minimize unwanted auto-fluorescent background in tissue samples, separate fluorescent dyes with overlapping spectra, and perform bio-functional analysis.
Live cell imaging
- Resonant scanner for fast live cell imgaing with lower light exposure.
- Dynamic signal enhancement (DSE) to enhance the temporal dynamics and overall image quality.
- Tokai Hit Cage Inkubatorsystem for temperature (370C) and CO2-controll.
- Auto Focus Control (AFC).