Manufacturers : Optoelectronics : Microscopes : Biological microscopes

Biological microscopes are used in the study of the physiology and pharmacology of excitable tissues and biological molecules including those of the heart, vasculature, brain and nervous system, gastrointestinal system including the pancreas, and many other systems in living sciences.  Biologic surfaces are the interfaces to the outside world. Understanding of developmental mechanisms has come from studies of gene expression patterns, tissue geometry, and/or cell morphology. The cell surface with its specialized biomolecules including receptors, channels and pumps is where most regulatory hormones, drugs and other signals are directed, thereby making the biologic surface of particular interest to physiologists and pharmacologists. Biological imaging technologies have been used for the non-destructive analysis of cell migration, differentiation, and neuronal interconnection during embryonic development. By applying to an electrophysiologic instrument the principles of scanning probe microscopy (SPM), particularly atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), substantial insight in biological environments can be gained. Magnetic resonance force microscopy is an emerging technology that combines the strengths of magnetic resonance and force microscopy to achieve high resolution three-dimensional sub-surface imaging of a test substance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has had a revolutionary impact on non-invasive imaging for both medical purposes and for microscopic studies of biological systems.

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