Applications Of Various Microscope Stages In Advanced Microscopy

Microscope Stages

A microscope stage is a small platform used for keeping the objects to be viewed under the microscope. In early days, these stages were manually operated. Slowly motorized stages were developed. Fast progressing research in all types manufacturing methods has now enabled us to develop myriad types of microscope stages. You will be surprised to know that microscope stages are developed with preprogrammed features and they can be controlled through software programs, typically image processing softwares. The next paragraph tells more about all these types.

Types of Stages

Apart from the earlier manual versus motorized types, today function specific stages are available in the market. Few of the basic types of stages are

* Linear stages
* Inverted stages
* Micropositioning stages
* Nanopositioning stages
* Piezo stages
* Single axis stages
* Multi axis stages

Latest Research in Microscopy

To understand the advancement of stages, we should understand different types of microscopy too. Few of them are listed below.

* Fluorescence microscopy
* DIC microscopy
* Super Resolution Microscopy
* Polarized Light Microscopy
* Confocal Microscopy

Controlling Microscope Stages

As mentioned earlier, today a microscope stage can be controlled through image processing softwares.

Motorized stages are employed with softwares of image acquisition software to automate moving of the stage between two or more positions or from one well to another well in a multi-well culture dish. To bring many axial images the focus mechanism must be upgraded through the specimen at precise intervals under the control of image acquisition software. Put in simple terms it means, an object can be viewed from different angles even when it is kept still. This is enabled by specific functions in softwares. They allow the object on the stage to be viewed from different angles. Sometimes, many images of the same object need to be captured for examination. It is also easily possible with these new age stages that come along with the software written specifically for them.

Application Areas of Advanced Microscope Stage

Few application areas are listed below

* Biotechnology, Life Sciences research
* Medical Research and Design of medical equipments
* Stem Cell Research
* Data Storage Technology in Computers
* Nanotechnology, Automation of various industry processes
* Aeronautics, Image Processing
* Astronomy, Space Research etc.

Advantages of Modern Microscope Stage

* Todays stages provide very high resolution microscopy.
* The stages are capable of giving very fast response.
* Very High Resolution allows getting highly accurate images.
* Stages have low cost as compared to their productivity.
* Newer stages are being developed for specific types of microscopy.
* These stages can move in a range of few millimeters giving the object to be screened high visibility.
* These stages can be made moving, vibrating, or stationary according to the needs.