CrestOptics and Leica Microsystems announce strategic collaboration to expand capabilities of spinning disk microscopy

• Collaboration to incorporate CICERO spinning disk imaging unit within THUNDER Imager Cell system
• New system launched at Neuroscience 2024 (5th-9th October, Chicago, IL)

Rome, IT, 07 October, 2024: CrestOptics S.p.A., a manufacturer of high-end microscopy solutions and advanced systems for fluorescence microscopy and diagnostic applications, today announced the initiation of a collaboration with Leica Microsystems, a leading provider of microscopy and scientific instrumentation. The partnership enables Leica Microsystems to offer CrestOptics’ CICERO spinning disk unit within its new THUNDER Imager Cell Spinning Disk system, bringing Leica Microsystems’ suite of unique and powerful imaging technologies to customers in the spinning disk market for the first time.

Launched in April 20231, CICERO was developed to make high-end imaging accessible to the wider scientific community. The system’s design centres around the essential elements of epi-fluoresence and confocal microscopy, providing a highly compact and cost-effective solution for powerful imaging applications, for which it was recognized as part of Microscopy Today’s Top 10 Best Microscopy Innovations Awards in July 20242. Using CICERO, users can seamlessly transition between widefield and confocal imaging as required, allowing for deeper insights into subjects ranging from large cell monolayers to complex 3D structures, as well as the capture of fast cellular events such as chromosome segregation and organelle trafficking. 

By combining Leica Microsystems’ proprietary THUNDER platform with CrestOptics’ CICERO spinning disk unit, the partnership provides a wider range of options and technologies for customers working with challenging large and 3D samples. The integration brings together THUNDER’s proprietary Computational Clearing technology, which enhances image quality, with the new intelligent automation of the DMi8 microscope. This includes features such as the Automated Sample Finder for quick, focused overviews, and Adaptive Immersion technology that maintains optimal focus, seamlessly switching between low magnification dry overview and water high-resolution views. Furthermore, the system’s SmartCORR optimizes objective settings in real-time, making it easy to acquire precise, reproducible data in 3D live cell imaging. Together, these innovations help to streamline and significantly improve workflows for more effective data generation.

Renato Giacobbo Scavo, CEO, CrestOptics, said “Leica Microsystems provide a wide array of unique and powerful solutions for the imaging market, including the THUNDER platform, Adaptive Immersion and many more. By partnering with Leica, we are helping to bring these solutions to the spinning disk microscopy market for the first time, allowing customers to leverage the benefits of these technologies in parallel with CICERO’s confocal imaging capabilities for high resolution imaging of large, often challenging, 3D samples.”

“As the spinning disk microscopy market continues to grow rapidly, the launch of this new system is a crucial milestone for us.” commented James O’Brien, Vice President Life Sciences and Applied Solutions, Leica Microsystems. He continued: “CrestOptics’ CICERO provided the ideal route to incorporate spinning disk capabilities within our THUNDER platform bringing both power and simplicity. We’re pleased to offer this new solution to our customers, that will allow them to combine the benefits of spinning disk microscopy with our range of cutting-edge technologies, for advanced imaging of complex samples.”

The THUNDER Imager Cell Spinning Disk will be launched at SfN’s Neuroscience 2024, taking place 5th-9th October. Visit Booth #965 for further information of for a live demonstration of the system.

1. Press Release (03 April, 2023): CrestOptics launches CICERO system to provide all-in-one solution for widefield and spinning disk confocal microscopy
2. Press Release (29 July, 2024): CrestOptics’ CICERO spinning disk confocal system receives Top 10 Best