Nikon AX R with Nikon Spatial Array ConfocalMicroscope System.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is conducting a market survey to determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses to provide a new Brand name or equal to Nikon AX R with Nikon Spatial Array Confocal (NSPARC) Microscope Detector Technology System. The system must provide enhanced fluorescence detection sensitivity to enable reliable detection of weak fluorescent signals while minimizing photobleaching and phototoxicity. The system must be configured as an upright microscope to accommodate ex vivo cochlear preparations, high-numerical-aperture water-dipping objectives, live pharmacological manipulations during experiments, and integration with patch-clamp electrophysiology equipment. Some key features of the required system include: • Upright microscope configuration • 25-element SPPC (Single Pixel Photon Counter) array detector • Single-photon sensitivity • Ultra-low-noise detector array • Improved signal-to-noise ratio • Live imaging of ex vivo cochlear preparations • Compatibility with high-numerical-aperture (1.0 N.A.) water-dipping objectives • Compatibility with simultaneous electrophysiology experiments • Support for live pharmacological manipulation during imaging • Time-lapse imaging • Calcium imaging • Neurotransmitter imaging • Voltage imaging • Low-light imaging • Photobleaching reduction • Phototoxicity reduction • Lateral resolution of approximately 100 nm super-resolution capability • Axial resolution of approximately 300 nm super-resolution capability • Resonant imaging • Pixel dwell time as short as 200 nanoseconds • Maximum resonant image size of up to 2048 × 2048 pixels • High-speed acquisition of up to 720 fps at 2048 × 16 pixels • Large field of view • Software compatibility with Nikon NIS-Elements software • Existing workflow compatibility • No significant additional training compared to existing Nikon systems • Collaborative research support