HLD117 Linear Motor Stage used at the NIMR

19.10.15

NIMR (http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/) is one of the world’s leading medical research institutes. Research at NIMR covers a broad spectrum of basic biomedical science, including infectious diseases, immunology, cell and developmental biology, neuroscience and structural biology. Prior Scientific is pleased to report that an HLD117 linear motor stage is now in operation at this prestigious facility.

Dr Yan Gu, Head of the Confocal Imaging & Analysis Laboratory at the NIMR, was designing a new imaging analysis system, which would include a motorized stage. He commented “As part of our new microscopy imaging system we sought a motorized stage that would deliver smooth, fast, highly repeatable and low noise operation. It should also have a large travel range and flexible sample holding options to cope with dishes, well plates, chambers and glass slides.”

After a period of evaluation, the NIMR Core Imaging facility opted to replace their previous motorised stepper stage with a HLD117 linear motor stage from Prior Scientific.

Dr Yan Gu noted that the HLD117 was significantly quieter and faster than the NIMR’s previous stepper motor stage and required less clearance space. He was also impressed with the travel range of the stage, noting that the linear motor stage provided a travel range 7mm x 6mm greater than his previous stage. This was especially useful when imaging 96-well plates and slides using high aperture objectives.

Commenting on the accuracy and repeatability of the HLD117 stage, Dr Yan Gu said “The repeatability in multiple field-of-view revisiting within a 3 mm diameter range was less than 50nm, more than good enough for our application”.

Dr Yan Gu has already received a lot of interest from other NIMR researchers wanting to use his upgraded system.