An Inside Look

The Nikon ECLIPSE Ji is a digital inverted microscope that is equipped with proprietary AI to streamline workflows, such as those for handling cell observation, analysis, data acquisition, and reporting. It can be easily operated by anyone by automating cumbersome tasks, is a benchtop model that does not require a darkroom, and features various innovative functions, while offering expandability to meet a wide range of needs. This is a microscope that provides new value to users. Here, the team members in charge of hardware design, product design, and software development who were involved in this project share their insights about the development process.

Digital transformation is underway in many areas, the generation of digital natives has become the new powerhouse of society, and time-sensitive, performance-driven work styles are prevalent. What kind of microscope does this paradigm shift require? The ECLIPSE Ji is Nikon's answer. Three members of the team involved in the development of the ECLIPSE Ji tell us about the project.

Nikon’s new digital microscope ECLIPSE Ui. This instrument enables real-time monitor observation of digital pathological images. Thanks to its high image quality, user-friendliness, quickness and efficiency, it is highly expected to improve the workflow of pathological examination. ECLIPSE Ui brings together Nikon's passions and missions as a "healthcare company" to open up a new category of medical devices. At the occasion of its release, the researchers and developers will talk about their challenges, ideas, and visions.

The origin of NSPARC is in the IIT (Italian Institute of Technology). We interviewed Professor Alberto Diaspro, Dr. Paolo Bianchini, and Dr. Giuseppe Vicidomini, who worked on research and development at the Nikon Imaging Center (NIC@IIT) and the Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy (MMS) Lab in the IIT.

Through simple external mounting on the AX/AX R confocal microscope system, NSPARC enables super-high-speed scanning with unprecedented high resolution for observation and acquisition of images, showing even the slightest of changes in living cells that cannot be detected with conventional confocal laser microscopes. Its developers spoke of their ambitious challenge of aiming higher.

Digital technologies strongly support the foundations of modern society. Nowadays, digital imaging is indispensable in the field of life sciences. The CFI Plan Apochromat Lambda D lens is an objective lens for microscopes that can ideally meet current requirements. Here, the persons in charge of planning and design of this lens talk about the product, which was created with the aim of supporting a wide range of users, from inspection to research and development, within the field of life sciences.

The AX/AX R confocal microscope system is designed to let anyone customize freely according to their usage. To find out more, we spoke to those in charge of product planning and design about the stories behind how they pursued software operability, as well as hardware performance improvements.

Nikon's ECLIPSE Si biological microscope supports current and prospective professionals such as pathologists, medical examiners and laboratory technicians working at medical and research institutions with its comfortable operability that helps them focus on testing. This product was developed to maximize performance at workplaces that support the health of the community. We interviewed the personnel responsible for planning and designing this microscope about their efforts to support users.

The ECLIPSE Ei educational microscope was developed with a goal to “provide an intuitive, easy-to-use microscope for students who have never used a microscope before.” By lowering the learning curve, students can focus on the curiosity-inspiring images seen through the microscope. Members of Nikon’s Marketing, Engineering, and Design departments share their thoughts below on the design and production process of this unique microscope.

The A1 HD25/A1R HD25 confocal microscope has achieved the industry’s largest field of view, dramatically improving data throughput for confocal imaging. In this Q&A, we provide an inside look into the development and planning process behind this groundbreaking confocal.