MOM® Movable Objective Microscope®

MOM®
Movable Objective Microscope®

• Product Description
• RGG Scan Box
• 3P-MOM
• Specifications
• Pricing
• Technical Information

The Movable Objective Microscope® (MOM®) is a two-photon or three-photon microscope that, when combined with a suitable laser, enables imaging deep within living specimens. The Sutter MOM is the first microscope capable of three-dimensional objective movement and rotation while keeping the specimen level and stationary. Used by many highly regarded imaging labs worldwide, we continually collaborate with customers to adapt the design to their evolving needs.

Watch the video to learn about MOM imaging and photostimulation beam paths

MOM Optomechanical Design
The MOM consists of two separate microscopes. The widefield end of the microscope, comprising an Olympus vertical illuminator, Sutter xenon arc lamp, and camera mount, provides standard epifluorescence. The two-photon end of the microscope provides the optical path for directing the excitation laser from the table up to the scanning galvanometers, then expanding the beam through the scan lens into the back of the objective. Following two-photon excitation, emitted photons are directed by a dichroic mirror located just above the objective into the detection path. The microscope body slides back on a rail system, facilitating easy specimen access before imaging.

The objective can be translated in the X, Y, and Z axes and rotated about the X-axis. Two steering mirrors enable the microscope to efficiently deliver excitation light to the back aperture of the objective, regardless of its movement or orientation. Its X, Y, and Z motions are identical to our MP-285 micromanipulator, ensuring smooth, fine, drift-free, and highly repeatable movement. These motions allow for recording Z-stacks and mosaic images of large tissue areas without moving the stage.

The horizontal light path permits the objective to rotate away from the standard vertical position. With this rotation, the MOM can easily transition from an upright to an inverted microscope, with the objective's rotation angle adjustable between 0 and 180 degrees. This positional freedom allows imaging of non-horizontal surfaces and volumes.

MOM Scanning System
Over the past 10 years, scanning systems for multiphoton microscopy have evolved in several ways. The advent of large aperture, high numerical aperture objectives necessitated scanners with larger apertures. Resonant scanner technology enabled faster imaging. Two-photon microscopes now include resonant galvanometer systems and resonant-galvanometer-galvanometer systems. The Sutter MOM has kept pace with these changes, with new technologies integrable into existing legacy microscopes with minimal modifications. Many original microscopes equipped with 3 mm galvanometer scanners have been upgraded to 6 mm galvanometer scanners or resonant/galvanometer scanners. For example, the Vidrio RMR scanner (a resonant-galvanometer-galvanometer scanner system) can be purchased as part of any new MOM system or retrofitted into existing MOM microscopes.

Imaging Software:
Since 2011, Sutter has offered the MOM Computer System and Software (MCS). Prior to the development of this package, most users relied on ScanImage or MPScope to generate scanned images. Customers value the MOM's compatibility with open-source freeware; however, there also appears to be a market for commercial software packages. MCS continues to provide an easy-to-use software package at a price competitive with other commercial and freeware options. The latest version, MScan 3.0, is compatible with Windows 10. A recent publication utilized the long (1-2 hour) data file capture capability inherent in the MCS proprietary data file structure. (Reference: Kuhn, 2020).

The MOM® has always been compatible with ScanImage freeware, a two-photon imaging software developed by Karel Svoboda and his collaborators. One reason the MOM platform exists in its current form is the strong support from the ScanImage community. In 2014, Vidrio became the primary platform for ScanImage support and new development. Sutter is pleased to offer Vidrio ScanImage Premium for customers seeking advanced support and the latest features. ScanImage Basic is offered as an entry-level system with one year of support. ScanImage freeware remains available but does not include support. Sutter offers packages containing the necessary data acquisition hardware to connect the MOM and other scanning microscopes to ScanImage Premium, ScanImage Basic, or the freeware version. We also sell Vidrio's hardware product line, including ScanImage-supported computers, vDAQ acquisition systems, and RMR scanners.

The Sutter MOM kit includes all equipment needed for a complete imaging system (excluding laser and objective):

• Scan lens and tube lens for two-photon or three-photon imaging
• Cambridge Technology XY galvanometers (3 mm or 6 mm) or resonant scanners (both resonant-galvanometer and resonant-galvanometer-galvanometer systems come with 5 mm mirrors)
• Hamamatsu photomultiplier tubes (PMTs): R6357 multi-alkali or H10770PA-40 (GaAsP) products. (Other PMT models are available; Sutter is an authorized distributor for Hamamatsu)
• PMT power supplies: Sutter PS-2 (dual-channel high-voltage supply for traditional PMTs) or Sutter PS-2/LV (dual-channel low-voltage supply for H10770PA-40 or other PMTs with built-in high voltage). Power supplies with remote on/off capability can be ordered for PMT gating.
• Hamamatsu, Sigmann, or FEMTO preamplifiers
• Data acquisition: National Instruments PXI FPGA, Vidrio vDAQ, or National Instruments PC-based multifunction I/O
• Conoptics Pockels cell for laser intensity control

Applications
• In vivo two-photon imaging
• In vivo three-photon imaging
• Electrophysiological recording and imaging (cultures, large in vivo preparations, etc.)
• Non-horizontal surface microscopy
• Simultaneous retinal stimulation and two-photon microscopy¹
• Whole-animal imaging
• Immunology
• Embryology

Features
• 22 mm of objective movement in X, Y, and Z axes
• Objective rotation about the optical axis for imaging non-horizontal surfaces and volumes
• Customizable open-platform design
• Cambridge Technology conventional or resonant XY scanners
• Dual or quad-channel detector systems with Hamamatsu PMTs and preamplifiers
• Sutter PS-2/ PS-2LV dual-channel PMT power supplies
• Two-photon or three-photon compatible scan and tube lenses
• *New* light block to keep visual stimulation, photostimulation, and ambient light out of the detector path
• National Instruments and Vidrio Technologies data acquisition systems

¹"Eye-slicer—optical recording of light-stimulus-evoked fluorescence signals in the retina," Euler et al., Pflugers Arch, 2008