Alpha3 Light-Sheet Microscope

Flexibility and Image Quality

Alpha3 is a flexible light-sheet fluorescence microscope for 3D imaging of live specimens, fixed samples and optically cleared tissues. The system can be configured for different sample dimensions, imaging media and experimental requirements.

Dual-sided illumination and active focus sweeping improve illumination uniformity across the field of view. Options include Smart 3D Scanning, XY tiling and environmental control for long-term live imaging.

QtSPIM provides integrated microscope control and multidimensional acquisition across position, rotation, time and fluorescence channels.

Four Key Advantages of Alpha3

Uniform illumination across the field of view. Dual-sided illumination combined with active focus sweeping improves illumination uniformity and maintains image quality across a wider field of view.
Flexible imaging of different specimens. Corrosion-resistant sample chambers and mounting options support experiments from live cell cultures and small organisms to cleared tissues and whole organs.
Rapid volumetric acquisition. Optional Smart 3D Scanning enables fast three-dimensional acquisition while the specimen remains stationary.
Imaging from large samples to fine structural detail. Detection objectives can be selected according to specimen dimensions, field of view, working distance and the structural information required.

Applied Technologies

Dual-Sided Illumination

Two opposing illumination units create multidirectional light-sheet illumination, helping reduce shadowing in absorbing or scattering biological samples.
Combined with active focus sweeping, this provides more consistent image quality across the field of view.

Real-Time Optical Focus Sweeping

Alpha3 moves the optimal illumination region across the image in synchronization with the camera rolling shutter.
This keeps the illuminated area within the thinnest region of the light sheet and improves image uniformity across the field of view.

Smart 3D Scanning

The specimen remains stationary while the illumination and detection planes move together through the sample.
This reduces mechanical disturbance and enables rapid volumetric imaging of live, fixed and cleared biological samples.

Versatile Sample Environment

A range of sample holders and mounting accessories supports imaging from small living specimens and cell cultures to cleared tissues and whole organs.

Optional temperature and CO₂ control enables stable conditions for long-term live imaging experiments.

Intuitive Acquisition Software

QtSPIM provides an intuitive interface for microscope control and efficient 3D image acquisition.

Imaging tools include:

Laser and camera controls
Focus control
Volumetric acquisition
Multichannel and time-lapse imaging
Compatibility with third-party software for image processing and analysis

Application Gallery

Examples of biological samples imaged with the Alpha3 light-sheet microscope.

Maximum-intensity projection of an iDISCO-cleared mouse embryo imaged with Alpha3 — Maximum-intensity projection of an iDISCO-cleared mouse embryo

3D volume rendering of an iDISCO-cleared mouse embryo imaged with Alpha3 — 3D volume rendering of an iDISCO-cleared mouse embryo.

In vivo membrane imaging of an Arabidopsis leaf acquired with Alpha3 — In vivo membrane labelling in an Arabidopsis leaf, 10×.

Live zebrafish larvae with fluorescently labelled motor neurons imaged with Alpha3 — Live zebrafish larvae expressing RFP and GCaMP in motor neurons. Courtesy of BioEmergences, France BioImaging.

Cleared zebrafish larval head with labelled neurons and blood vessels imaged with Alpha3 — Cleared zebrafish larval head with labelled neurons and blood vessels, 20×.

Fluorescence image of mouse brain vasculature acquired with Alpha3 — Mouse brain vasculature. Courtesy of Dr. Beth Friedman and Hannah Liechty, Kleinfeld Laboratory, UC San Diego.

Discuss Your Research

Tell us about your samples, preparation methods and imaging requirements. We can discuss an Alpha3 configuration suited to your current experiments and future research needs.