SECOM - Integrated Optoelectronic Integrated Platform-

The SECOM platform integrates the advantages of both optical and electron microscopes, and is installed on existing electron microscopes to achieve high-precision automatic optoelectronic correlation applications. The combination of fluorescence imaging functional analysis and high-resolution ultrastructural information from electron microscopy makes the SECOM platform particularly suitable for studying the complex relationship between biological ultrastructure and function.

SECOM achieves simultaneous fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy imaging capabilities by installing an inverted fluorescence microscope in the vacuum chamber of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SECOM platform comes with a high-precision electric stage and a complete fluorescence microscope system.

Due to its integrated design, it can quickly and seamlessly switch from fluorescence imaging to electronic scanning imaging. The system has automatic calibration of the coordinate system for light and electron microscopes, achieving a positioning accuracy of less than 50nm, and automatically stacking light and electric mirrors. The SECOM platform is equipped with a visualization software package that allows for easy acquisition of light and electron microscopy images. The software package can control the movement of the SECOM loading platform, alignment of the optical lens objective, and manipulation of the electron microscope.

The SECOM platform can be easily installed on existing SEM, perfectly integrating the workflow of optical and electron microscopes. We will not compromise on optical performance and existing electron microscopy performance, and maintain the original performance standards.

Key features

Automatic image overlay

Due to the automatic overlay function of the SECOM platform, you can spend less effort than traditional methods such as manually overlaying EM and FM images. In addition, SECOM does not require the use of traditional identification points for positioning, relying on a coordinate automatic calibration system protected by independent patents. The positioning does not cause any harm to the sample itself, ensuring that scientists can obtain imaging faster and more accurate stacking. The software automatically overlays images, helping scientists focus on the experiment itself without having to pay too much attention to trivial engineering processing.

Leading optical performance

The use of high-quality optical components ensures that any integrated system of Delmic has the best optical performance. Multi band fluorescence imaging is a standard configuration of SECOM. If there are special requirements, we customize according to customer needs.

Oil immersed optical objective lens

DELMIC has developed a unique patented oil immersion product for vacuum systems. This allows you to achieve high numerical aperture (NA=1.4) optical performance on the SECOM platform. The SECOM system supports water immersion and oil immersion objectives, configured according to your needs.

system compatibility

Fully tap into the potential of your SEM electron microscope

SECOM, as an attachment for SEM, can be directly installed through the SEM vacuum chamber door. SECOM is fully compatible with conventional detectors of existing SEM and does not interfere with each other, ensuring that the original capabilities of your electron microscope are not affected in any way. SECOM also supports special functions such as electron beam deceleration mode, in lens detection, and immersion mode. Like other DELMIC products, SECOM is compatible with mainstream SEM models commercially available on the market.

Unparalleled stacking accuracy

Accurate, unbiased, and user free automatic stacking

The automatic overlay program on the SECOM platform ensures that electron microscopy and light microscopy images are always perfectly aligned. The unbiased automatic stacking function utilizes unique patented cathodoluminescence calibration technology to ensure highly reliable and accurate position information, making it a powerful tool for life science research. The key to the alignment process lies in the physical principle of cathodoluminescence. Electron beams bombard glass to produce cathodoluminescence, which is collected by a light mirror for positional information. Combined with precise moving stages and error correction algorithms for multi-point matrix arrays, it achieves less than50nmAccuracy of alignment.

User friendly interface

The modular open-source software ODEMIS has a user-friendly interface that is easy to learn and suitable for customers in different research fields. We are committed to providing a unique hardware and software integrated system to meet diverse research needs.

characteristic

One click automatic calibration correlation between light mirror coordinates and electron microscope coordinates

autofocus

Data export function

Memory tracking and rollback of carrier coordinate position

Open source Python programming language, suitable for customers' secondary customized development

Software fully integrated control hardware, including SEM

Advanced image processing algorithms, users can also develop more suitable advanced image processing algorithms according to their own needs

automatic control

High precision electric platform

The motor-driven closed-loop control sample stage allows users to accurately navigate the sample position at the nanoscale. All of this is attributed to the precision piezoelectric stepper motor and optical linear encoder feedback closed-loop control equipped on the SECOM platform

Super flexibility

Modular design

SECOM provides you with ample freedom in experimental design due to its open source software and modular design features. The system has both scalability and module design, ensuring reliable integration performance.

Application examples

Slice imaging

Use fluorescence to calibrate specific regions, and use CLEM to image single-cell molecules to obtain ultrastructure.

Figure : Localization of the lipid diacylglycerol within cellular membranes of HeLa cell expressing GFP-C1.

Image courtesy: C.J. Peddie and L.M. Collinson, Francis Crick Institute

Figure : Hela Kyoto cells stably expressing GalNAC-T2-GFP and Histone 2B-mcherry. The cells were grown on carbon coated sapphire disks and high pressure frozen. The cells were then freeze substituted with 0.1% UA in glass distilled acetone in Lowicryl HM20.

Sample courtesy: P. Ronchi & Y. Schwab, EMBL

Imaging of cultured cells

The photoelectrochemical correlation microscopy (CLEM) is also an excellent tool for studying the morphology and surface structure of cultured cells. CLEM provides a fast and direct research method to obtain the relationship between cell morphology and its specific functional proteins.

Overlay image of fluorescence imaging and electric mirror image

Figure: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) contain rod-like storage granules called Wiebel-Palade boddies which store Von Willebrand factor (VWF) These organelles play an important role in blood coagulation. Actin (Phalloidin Alexa 488) and VWF (Alexa 568).

Sample courtesy of M.J. Mourik, LUMC.