The Company

Confocal NL enables researchers to perform cutting-edge live cell imaging experiments and accelerate their discoveries with our disruptive technology that minimizes phototoxicity and delivers unparalleled signal-to-noise ratios. Fueled by passion for scientific breakthroughs, Confocal NL is committed to creating lasting value for all our stakeholders.

The Technology

REscan Confocal Microscopy (RCM) is a super resolution technique based on a standard confocal extended with an optical re-scanning unit that projects the image directly on a CCD or sCMOS camera (Luca et al., 2013).

By using a sensitive camera as a detector, the quantum efficiency (QE) of RCM increases up to 95% in the visible range of light (VIS) and 67% in near-infrared (NIR) light. Traditional point scanning confocal systems use Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs) as a detector. The sensitivity of a PMT is maximum 45%. RCM strongly increases sensitivity while maintaining the confocal sectioning capability. The REscan technology allows the development of images with a 40% increase in resolution, without closing the pinhole. Therefore, more photons are captured, and the signal-to-noise ratio is four times higher in RCM than in standard PMT-based confocal microscopes. This results in 170 nm resolution images with an extremely high signal-to-noise ratio. Combining RCM with deconvolution, the resolution is further improved to 120 nm.