Mad City Labs is the innovation leader for precision, piezo based nanopositioners for microscopy. We offer products suited to electron, atomic, optical and super resolution (SR) microscopy applications with an emphasis on low noise, low drift with user friendly features. Among our offerings: lowest profile nanopositioning stages (height < 16mm), integrated positioning solutions for light microscopy, high speed nanopositioners, Z-axis positioners and the C-Focus™, a one button lens drift correction system. We are a leading supplier of piezo Z axis stages to light microscopy vendors.

Get Focused!

The C-Focus™ system provide an automatic means to eliminate microscope focus drift over long time periods. Unlike autofocus systems which require use of advanced microscopes with internal focus correction or external devices which track video signals or reflected laser beams, the C-Focus™ simply corrects for microscope focus drift by using a high resolution (5nm) sensor system to measure the lens-to-sample spacing and make the necessary adjustments. The C-Focus™ system has no effect on standard manual focusing and can be retrofit to any microscope. After focus is established, simply pushing the "focus lock" button starts the C-Focus™ operation. Objective lens motions are accomplished with a piezo lens nanopositioner (the Nano-F100) which is easily connected to the objective lens and microscope with standard threaded adapters. In addition to the unique C-Focus™ operation, lens nanopositioner motion can also be directly commanded by digital (16-bit USB) or analog signals and can be used for high speed, high resolution confocal imaging and other imaging tasks with demanding focus requirements. The C-Focus™ lens positioning system contains the same proprietary, low noise PicoQ™ position sensors used in all Mad City Labs nanopositioners and is capable of sub-nanometer positioning resolution.

3D reconstruction

The Nano-Z Series are single axis (Z-axis) nanopositioning systems with a low profile design, allowing it to be easily retrofit into existing instrumentation where space is restricted. With a large center aperture, the Nano-Z Series is ideal for high speed confocal imaging and microscopy applications which require long range travel and repeatable positioning. Combined with the high output power Nano-Drive™85, the Nano-Z Series is capable of a 3-4 ms step response - ideal for high speed, high precision applications. Internal position sensors utilizing proprietary PicoQ™ technology provide absolute, repeatable position measurement with picometer accuracy under closed loop control.

In addition to the compact Nano-Z series, the longer range Nano-Z500 has been specifically designed to hold multiwell plates used in biomedical research. High-throughput single cell fluorescence microscopy and high speed, high resolution confocal imaging can be accomplished while simultaneously adjusting the Z-axis position to remove the effects of multiwell plate irregularities. As with all Mad City Labs stages, the Nano-Z500 has true flexure guided motion and contains proprietary PicoQ™ technology. The position sensors provide absolute, repeatable position measurement for closed loop control with a resolution of better than 1 nm over the full 500 micron travel range. In addition to high resolution spatial imaging, the Nano-Z500's 15 ms step response allows entire Z-section acquisitions with minimal photo bleaching.

Lowest profile nanopositioners

Our Nano-LPS and Nano-BioS series of multi axis nanopositioners are the lowest profile piezo positioners on the market. Building on our previous innovative designs for the Nano-LP100 and Nano-Bio100 and in response to customer feedback, the Nano-LPS and Nano-BioS series offer large 83mm center apertures and sub-nanometer precision under closed loop control in a very slim package. Up to 300 microns of travel in each axis is available (XYZ) and extremely low noise floor (see figure below) make these systems ideal for exacting microscopy applications, such as SR microscopy, where low drift and large travel ranges are a high priority. Our low profile nanopositioners are an integral part of our Nano-View™ and Nano-View/M™ series, allowing a wide field of view with sub-nanometer resolution. We also offer a range of compatible sample holders for these nanopositioning stages, easing the integration of our piezo stages with your microscopy instrumentation.

Features

• Lowest profiles (20mm or less)
• Travel ranges up to 300 microns per axis
• Picometer position noise
• Low drift, high stability
• Sample accessories available

Left: In a log-log plot of the peak-to-peak noise of a Nano-LP100 stage as a function of frequency, the reference signal is 3.5 nm peak-to-peak sine wave at 7Hz and the noise floor is approximately 0.03nm. R1 is a mechanical resonance of the stage.

Particle Tracking

The recent introduction of high speed cameras has enabled renewed interest in particle tracking of single molecules. The eventual aim is to track living cells in a natural (or near natural) fluid. In order to achieve this, high speed positioners with exceptional resolution and repeatability are required. Particle tracking experiments require high speed nanopositioning stages with step responses in the single millisecond regime, center aperture and travel ranges in excess of 50 microns per axis. Mad City Labs offers the only high speed nanopositioning stages with these attributes. The Nano-PDQ series offers millisecond response times, large central aperture, multi axis configurations and up to 75 microns travel range.

In addition, the Nano-PDQ nanopositioning stages can be integrated with the Nano-View/M systems (see below), permitting a manually adjustable, wide field of view.

Integrated solutions - wide view, nanometer precision

Many microscopy techniques now require the speed and resolution offered by piezo nanopositioning stages however most true nanopositioners have a limited travel range, typically less than 0.5 mm. Such a small travel range is usually inadequate for locating areas of interest within culture vessels. To solve this problem, the Nano-View™ and Nano-View™/M systems offer integrated positioning allowing the user to travel up to 25 mm in X and Y, while preserving the high resolution capabilities of our piezo nanopositioners.

Both series comprise a micropositioning platform with a high resolution multi-axis nanopositioning system (low profile or high speed). The Nano-View™ series is an automated system, designed for programmable movement over 25mm (XY) with sub-nanometer resolution movement provided by our high resolution piezo nanopositioners. The nanopositioning stages offer travel ranges up to 300 microns per axis with sub-nanometer resolution. More information regarding the Nano-View™ series can be found at http://www.madcitylabs.com/nanoview.html (open in a new window).

The Nano-View/M™ combines a manual micrometer driven, two axis, linear motion stage with high resolution, long range nanopositioners - either ultra-low profile or ultra-high speed. A stable blocking force of 10 N built into each axis of the coarse positioning stage provides a secure base for precision nanopositioning. The nanopositioning systems built into the Nano-View/M™ have the lowest profiles available and provide sub-nanometer resolution under closed loop control. The overall height of the Nano-View/M™ with the low profile nanopositioners is only slightly more than standard manual XY stages. An optional breadboard assembly with threaded mounting holes is a convenient mounting surface for probes. Nanopositioner ranges of motion extend up to 300 microns per axis (X,Y and Z).