Prior Scientific News

Prior Scientific Introduces the ZDeck Quick Adjust Platform System for Olympus BX51WI and BX61WI Microscopes

ROCKLAND, MA (July 15, 2010) - Prior Scientific is proud to introduce the ZDeck Quick Adjust Platform System for Olympus BX51WI and BX61WI microscopes. The ZDeck Quick Adjust Platform System increases productivity by allowing the user to image multiple areas of interest with unsurpassed speed and precision. The ZDeck lowers quickly and easily via the use of pneumatic pistons, providing easy access for loading and unloading of samples. No tools are required for height adjustment, simplifying the transition of changing between a thin sample and whole animal imaging heights. Condenser and pillar spacers are included with the system to allow for Koehler illumination at a wide range of focus heights. The system incorporates a custom Prior Scientific ProScan™ series high precision motorized stage which provides submicron repeatability and smooth movement. The high precision motorized stage is controlled by the new ProScan™III controller and PS3J100 joystick which provide ultra-fine control via dual digipots. Oversized plates are provided on both sides of the sample area for mounting micromanipulators. The ProScan™ series stage can also be equipped with encoders for applications that require the ultimate in high precision. The ZDeck System is compatible with 6mm or 1/4-20 vibration isolation tables.

Prior Scientific is recognized for its contributions at the opening of the
UNC-Olympus Research Imaging Center at UNC at Chapel Hill Campus

CHAPEL HILL, NC (June 24, 2010) - Prior Scientific is proud to be recognized as a contributor to the brand new UNC-Olympus Research Imaging Center at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. The new facility is designed to be one of the world’s most sophisticated research centers devoted to life science imaging. The new UNC-Olympus Research Imaging Center will provide researchers with the most advanced microscopes, software, illumination systems and automation equipment available. Cell biology, neuroscience, pharmacology and other specialties that contribute to the study of cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease and other conditions will be the main areas of research conducted at the facility.

The UNC-Olympus Research Imaging Centers Co-director, James E. Bear, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Early Career Scientist of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute stated "Prior Scientific is a critical partner in the new UNC-Olympus Imaging Research Center. Their metal halide illumination sources like the Lumen PRO200 provide outstanding brightness and stability for all types of imaging. The precision stages offer excellent repeatability and reliability for the multi-position time-lapse experiments that are happening nearly around the clock in the Center."

Prior Scientific launches the redesigned
Lumen 200 Fluorescence Illumination Systems

ROCKLAND, MA., (May 4, 2010) - Prior Scientific is proud to relaunch the redesigned Lumen 200 Fluorescence Illumination Systems in a new black color scheme. The Lumen 200's revised black color scheme coordinates with the highly successful ProScan™III Microscope Automation System that was launched in April of 2010.The Lumen systems retain all the same specifications as previous models which provide unrivaled versatility and illumination power. For more information on the Lumen series of illumination systems please click here.

Prior Scientific's PL-200 Slide Loader is now supported by
Media Cybernetic's ImagePro® 7.0.1 software

ROCKLAND, MA., (April 19, 2010) - The PL-200 is now fully controlled using Image-Pro 7.0.1 making it now possible to truly automate the digital imaging of microscopic specimens using precision scanning stages and automated loading and unloading of samples. The new hardware compatibility included with all Plus versions of Image-Pro 7.0.1, using Scope-Pro, make it possible to automate simple and advanced routines either manually operated or using Image-Pro’s exceptional scripting language. Macro writers have an opportunity to create fully automated slide handling systems. The supported versions include Plus, Inspector, MDA, 3D, and AMS. The PL-200 is designed to be compatible with the widest range of upright and inverted microscopes in routine use today, by utilizing a space saving rotating arm design combined with a multiple sensory based gripper system to interface with Prior's ProScan II series of motorized stages. This combination ensures a safe and reliable high speed slide transfer routine. Each 200 slide capacity scan, transfer, reload, or rescan can be seamlessly handled and easily configured and reconfigured using Image-Pro’s Scope-Pro hardware interface. Simple color coded slides tell you where slides are located in the rack, and by a simple click of the mouse a slide can be easily moved into an accurate position. This driver is included with every Plus version of Image-Pro Plus 7.0.1 and can be accessed from the Scope-Pro Hardware Configuration and can also be accessed from the support site using the following link http://support.mediacy.com/scopedrivers.asp.

Prior Scientific Introduces the
ProScan™III Microscope Automation Systems

ROCKLAND, MA., (April 5, 2010) - Prior proudly introduces the ultimate advancement in microscope automation control - the ProScan™III Microscope Automation System. The compact and modular design is capable of controlling up to 16 axes including a motorized stage, focus drive, three filter wheels and three shutters with the speed, accuracy and precision required by todays highly
automated and demanding applications. ProScan™III’s improved processor provides up to a 250% increase in stage speed. Designed to have a small footprint, the system saves valuable workspace and eases the pressure on the limited space constraints in modern labs. Communication to the controller has been improved with a true USB with direct HID connection available making the unit both Windows and Mac compatible. The programmable TLL can control the movements a stage, focus motor, three filter wheels and three shutters for fast analogue interfacing and camera control. The Interactive Control Center (ICC) provides centralized manual control of all equipment. The screen provides positional feedback while the joystick, buttons and digipots control accessories such as: a stage, focus drive, filter wheels, and shutters. New features in the center allow the user to measure distances, label filter wheel positions with dye names (e.g., DAPI, FITC, etc.) and take fine control of the stage for intricate movements. ProScan™III is ideally suited to the most demanding imaging applications which require high accuracy, speed and repeatability, with the option to encode all axes.

Prior Scientific's award winning Slide Loader System is now
capable of handling 2x3 and 1x3 slides.

ROCKLAND, MA., (February 22, 2010) - The Prior Scientific PL-100 Slide Loader is an innovative high speed automated slide loading system that is ideal for a variety of high throughput microscopy applications. The PL-100 is now capable of handling up to 100 - 2x3 slides (or 200 - 1x3 slides in the PL-200 model) which are housed in two racks of 50. Designed to be compatible with the widest range of microscopes, the PL-100 utilizes a space saving rotating arm design combined with a multiple sensory based gripper system to interface with Prior's ProScan II series of motorized stages to ensure a safe and reliable high speed slide transfer routine. For more information on the PL-100 please click here...

Prior Scientific introduces the new H117P2IX Flat Top Motorized Stage for Olympus IX series Microscopes

ROCKLAND, MA., (December 8, 2009) - Prior is proud to introduce the H117P2IX flat top stage for the the Olympus IX series of inverted microscopes. While the H117P2IX is ideal for all high precision biomedical and material science scanning operations, specific attention was given to designing the H117P2IX to assist the researcher who is doing prolonged live cell studies. The newest version of Prior’s H117P2IX stage maximizes access to the nosepiece for correction collar adjustment. Miniaturized drive boxes occupy a fraction of the space of previous models providing easy access to the nosepiece area of the microscope.

Prior Scientific introduces the NIKRFK Focus Drive for
Nikon Microscopes

ROCKLAND, MA., (December 4, 2009) - Prior Scientific has introduced the NIKRFK Focus Drive with integral electronic clutch specifically designed for the Nikon Ti, 80i and FN1 microscopes.

Prior Scientific introduces the ES10ZE Focus Controller

ROCKLAND, MA., (October 21, 2009) - Prior Scientific has introduced a focus only control system for modern microscopes. Ideally suited to those applications involving extended focus or Z-stacking, the ES10ZE offers a low cost, compact, yet powerful system to automate a microscope focusing mechanism.

Prior Scientific's PL-200 Slide Loader featured in the July Issue of Vision Systems Design

ROCKLAND, MA., (July 14, 2009) - The July 2009 issue of Vision Systems Design magazine features an article spotlighting the benefits and features of the award winning PL-200 Slide Loader. Please click here to read the full article.

Prior Scientific introduces the new H117 ProScan II Flat Top Motorized Stage for Nikon MA200 Microscopes

ROCKLAND, MA., (July 13, 2009) - The highest precision motorized stages from Prior Scientific are now available for Nikon's MA200 newest industrial microscope. The ergonomic, energy efficient and space saving design of the MA200 combined with Prior Scientific's newest H117 motorized stage allows automated scanning and inspection of diverse industrial samples such as metals, ceramics, and polymers. Additionally, the H117 motorized stage provides automatic measurement and grain analysis as well as stitching and analysis of larger samples when used with many image analysis software packages with drivers for Prior stages. The H117 stage for the MA200 was designed to work with Nikon's standard round holder inserts as well as a broad range of sample holders manufactured by Prior Scientific, including holders such as 1.0", 1.25", 1.5" and 2.0" diameter metallurgical sample holders, solid aluminum and glass plates.

Prior Scientific's PL-200 Slide Loader is now supported by Objective Imaging's Surveyor software with Turboscan

ROCKLAND, MA., (May 27, 2009) - Prior Scientific has announced that the Prior Scientific PL-200 Slide Loader is now fully supported by Objective Imaging's Surveyor software with TurboScan. TurboScan allows the user to scan an entire slide in seconds and create near perfect-image mosaics at camera frame rates for up to 200 slides at a time. The PL-200 Slide Loader System is compatible with Prior's ProScan II stage to ensure the highest levels of precision and accuracy when interfacing with the software packages. The PL-200 is the ultimate high volume, cost effective tool for image acquisition, processing, and analysis.

Prior Scientific's PL-200 Slide Loader is now supported by Molecular Devices MetaMorph image acquisition and analysis software

ROCKLAND, MA., (May 26, 2009) - Prior Scientific has announced that the Prior Scientific PL-200 Slide Loader is now fully supported by Molecular Devices MetaMorph image acquisition and analysis software. MetaMorph from Molecular Devices offers a flexible and powerful tool for image acquisition, processing and analysis. The PL-200 is now fully controlled using MetaMorph. A single USB connection to the PL-200 ensures simple system integration.

Prior Scientific's PL-200 Slide Loader System is named the winner in the 2009 Laboratory Equipment Readers' Choice Awards!

ROCKLAND, MA., (February 13, 2009) - The Prior Scientific PL-200 Slide Loader has been named the winning product in the prestigious 2009 Laboratory Equipment Readers' Choice awards in the automation category. The PL-200 is a significant step forward for laboratory automation in the field of microscopy. It is designed to integrate with Prior's H101A ProScan II motorized stage, thus providing the highest level of automation for slide scanning applications in the market today. With a capacity of 200 slides, it is now feasible to leave an automated microscope unattended for many hours which means greatly improved productivity. The PL-200 together with a ProScan II stage provides unmatched accuracy and precision, plus greatly reduced slide scanning times thanks to complete automation of the slide scanning process.