Confocal microscopy revolutionized the field of fluorescence microscopy by allowing optical sectioning. However this technique is relatively slow and therefore suboptimal for tracking of moving objects. Spinning disk microscopes can acquire images with a speed in the order of 30 fps combined with a reduced light dose compared to confocal microscopes while still providing optical sectioning. Therefore they are better suited live cell imaging.

While confocal microscopy uses one pinhole to detect fluorescence of a sample scanned by one excitation spot, spinning disk confocal microscopy uses a rotating disk with 1000 or more pinholes to generate multiple simultaneous excitation beams. Thereafter emission is detected through the same set of pinholes to ensure confocal detection.

This spinning disk microscope is an inverted microscope with the option to use an inverter arm for upright microscopy. It has four laser lines (405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 640 nm) and accompanying single band emission filters and one quad band filter. The microscope is equipped with a broad set of objective lenses:

• 20X: CFI Plan Apochromat Lambda D 20X, NA 0.8, WD 0.8, AIR (MRD70270)
• 40X: CFI Plan Fluor 40X, NA 0.75, WD 0.66, AIR (MRH00405)
• 40X: CFI Plan Apochromat Lambda D 40X, NA 0.95, WD 0.21 (MRD70470)
• 60X WI: CFI Plan Apo VC 60XC WI, NA 1.2, WD 0.31-0.28 (MRD07602)
• 60X Oil: CFI Plan Apochromat Lambda D 60X Oil, NA 1.42, WD 0.15 (MRD71670)
• 100X oil: CFI HP Plan Apo VC 100X Oil NA 1.4, WD 0.13 (MRD01902)

The Yokagawa spinning disk is optimized for the 100X Oil objective lens (Nyquist resolution). Detection occurs with an Andor EMCCD camera for sensitive detection.

A Perfect Focus System and a stage top incubator and objective heater for temperature, CO₂ and humidity control are available.