Experiment information
The 3i CTLS is suitable for live or fixed clear samples, whether that is artificial (through clearing), or natural. For live samples, they must be viable at room temperature as there is little to no environmental control. The sample chamber can handle relatively large samples up to the size of about 20 x 50 x 18mm, or multiple samples in a high throughput organisation. This system is suitable for many applications, including: imaging cells embedded in gels, cleared tissue samples from human (biopsies) and animals, including whole organs (for example, kidney, liver, eyes) or even whole organisms (up to the size of neonatal mice).
Samples are held on a 3D-printed device that magnetically attaches to a motorised stage. The 3D-printed device can be custom designed to fit your sample, but usually we glue the sample to the spoon with a UV-curing adhesive that is easily removed afterwards. Alternatively, if the sample is the right size, it can be clamped in place. This works well for gel-like samples that will not adhere to glue well.
There are a variety of configurations listed below, but we generally use the 10x illumination objective coupled with the 1.5x detection objective to give the best range of resolution, field of view and light sheet thickness, while compromising on maximum sample size. Discussion with a link scientist will help to determine the best configuration for your samples.
