Virtual Microscopy, Slide Scanner

The NanoZoomer Digital Pathology (NDP) is a system for scanning tissue and cellular glass slides and converting them to high-resolution digital slides. Through PCs connected to the Internet or an intranet environment, digital slides can be observed at any position and desired magnification using the mouse or keyboard with the same quality and speed as if one were operating a conventional microscope.

The NanoZoomer is a slide scanner capable of high speed, high sensitivity, and high resolution. It offers many features such as the following:

up to 210 slides scanned per batch
easy-to-use scanner with 3 operation modes (automatic, semiautomatic, and manual)
scanning modes: x20 (0.46 µm/pixel) and x40 (0.23 µm/pixel)
high-speed scanning and high-quality digital images
wide range of software solutions
Z-stack feature
fluorescence option

Up to 210 slides scanned per load

Easily load 210 slides into the dedicated holders, and start the scan with a click of a button. The digital slides can be transferred automatically to a web server for viewing on your intranet or over the Internet at any time.

Easy-to-use scanner with 3 operation modes

The NanoZoomer is fully equipped for both routine and research work, offering both a fully automated mode as well as more flexible ways of operation. Select from three operation modes--automatic, semiautomatic, and manual--to best suit your needs. The NanoZoomer is equipped with an easy-to-use and powerful software which has an intuitive graphical interface.

x20 and x40 scanning modes in one system

The NanoZoomer includes both x20 (0.46 µm/pixel) and x40 (0.23 µm/pixel) scanning modes. To scan a batch of slides in a combination of x20 and x40 modes, simply select the magnification in the acquisition software.

High-speed scanning and high-quality digital images

The NanoZoomer scans slides quickly and produces high-quality digital images. Scanning a slide in the standard x20 mode takes less than 1 minute for 1 cm² scanned area. The digital images produced are true 24-bits RGB images with full-pixel resolution in each channel--courtesy of TDI (time-delay-and-integration) technology combined with a high-grade 3-CCD digital camera. This combination of technologies gives a significant increase in image quality compared to color cameras based on mosaic or RGB filtering (see our color imaging section).

Wide range of software solutions

We can offer a wide range of software solutions adapted to your applications. Whatever the field (education, image analysis, telepathology, TMA, toxicology, diagnoses, etc.), we can help you to decide the best solution for your application.

Z-stack feature on whole slide

Use your PC like a real microscope. The Z-stack function, a unique feature of the NanoZoomer, allows multilayer scanning at different focal planes of a specimen on a whole slide. Prior to slide scanning choose the number of planes and the spacing between each plane and then navigate between planes with the image viewer as if you were adjusting the fine or coarse focus screw of a microscope.

The Z-stack feature is ideal for cytology (smears, cellular thin layers) or morphology studies (histology, rare events search, etc.), which requires obtaining the maximum information on each specific cell. The Z-stack function is also a powerful tool for brain mapping, TMA, any difficult samples with a wide variation of Z-position, and fluorescence studies.

Fluorescence option

In addition to standard brightfield applications you can upgrade your NanoZoomer system with the Fluorescence Illumination Optics option to scan fluorescence-labeled samples. The fluorescence illumination option together with the NanoZoomer's 3-CCD TDI camera allow the observation of low-light-level fluorescence tissue samples at high resolution.