Crystal Clear Imaging. Unparalleled Speed.
ROCK IMAGER® - Crystallization Imagers are a series of automated imaging systems designed for protein crystallization screening. Capture superior quality images of your protein drops while learning critical information about your crystals. ROCK IMAGERs are available with various plate capacities and imaging features, so there is a model to fit every lab's budget and workflow.
The most trusted imager in protein crystallization - used by the top 10 pharmaceutical companies and many renowned academic centers
Screen conditions with various imaging methods - Visible Light, UV fluorescence, UV absorption, Multi-Fluorescence Imaging, Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP), Second Order Nonlinear Imaging of Chiral Crystals (SONICC)
Various models to fit your budget and workflow - plate capacities from a single plate up to 940 SBS plates or 1500 LCP plates
Seamless integration with Rock Maker or your current crystallization software via Rock Imager API
Temperature regulation options available for precise temperature control from 30°C down to 4°C
Multiple plate options available - SBS, Linbro, Nextal, Terasaki/HLA and Lipid Cubic Phase (LCP) plate
Screen Conditions with More Confidence
See the Details of Your Drops
High optical resolution is achieved by increasing the numerical aperture of the objective. The trade-off, however, is that depth of field (depth of image in focus at one time) is reduced. ROCK IMAGER combines multiple slices into one Extended Focus Image (EFI) to allow the best of both worlds.
Capture Images the Way You Want
Multiple images of each drop can be captured with user-adjustable settings including exposure, polarization, and condenser aperture.
See Something Interesting? Zoom in for a Better Look
Specify regions of interest within a drop to zoom into. ROCK IMAGER will automatically capture those areas in high resolution.
Learn More About Your Drops
Multiple imaging technologies are available for ROCK IMAGER allowing you to discover more about your protein drops:
Visible Light
Standard screening imaging technique that provides high-resolution images. Learn More
Ultraviolet (UV)
Determine if your crystals are protein or salt and find crystals in optically turbulent environments. Learn More
Multi-Fluorescence Imaging (MFI)
Find protein-protein complexes and increase crystal detection sensitivity. Learn More
Second Order Nonlinear Imaging of Chiral Crystals (SONICC)
Detect microcrystals (<1 µm ), determine which crystals are protein vs. salt, and increase crystal detection sensitivity. Learn More
Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP)
Identify the optimal conditions for LCP crystal growth without having to wait on the crystals actually growing. Learn More
Increase Your Screening Throughput
Save Time by Only Imaging Actual Drops
Algorithms automatically locate drops (including LCP drops) while continuous zoom optics allow you to tighten the field of view perfectly to the edges of your drops.
Focus on What Matters
Autofocus parameters can be tuned so only the right z-slices are captured increasing your imaging throughput. To ensure proper lighting, the exposure time is also automatically adjusted to maximize image brightness.
Adjust Imaging Settings to Fit Your Throughput Needs
Image entire 96-well plates in just 3 minutes with coarse sectioning & fixed exposures. Routine imaging of 400 nL drops with autoexposure and EFI in just 5 minutes with visible light and 10 minutes with UV. For the best possible images, perform automatic drop location and autofocus and take visible light images in just 15 minutes per plate.
Versatile Options for Any Lab
Models to Fit Your Lab's Throughput and Budget
With 5 different models all with flexible options, there is a ROCK IMAGER to fit your lab's needs. Plate capacities range from a single-plate desktop model up to 940 SBS plates or 1500 LCP plates with hotel storage.
No Need to Change Your Microplate
All Rock Imagers are compatible with SBS, LCP, and microbatch plates. Options for Linbro and Qiagen EasyXtal plate compatibility are available.
Grow Protein Crystals at the Optimal Temperature
Incubation Hotels
The hotel-based ROCK IMAGERs (RI54, RI182, and RI1000) precisely monitor and regulate their internal temperatures. A network of sensors measures and records temperatures with a resolution of 0.1 °C, while an air recirculation system maintains even temperature distribution.
Heat Exchange Options
ROCK IMAGER 1000s have two heat exchange options to ensure optimal incubation temperature:
- Peltier Heat Exchanger: regulates temperature from 5° C below ambient to 7° C above ambient with 0.5° C precision standard
- Redundant Compressor Cooling System: regulates temperature from 4° C to 19° C with ambient temperature from 16° C to 30° C
Seamless Crystallography Workflow Integration
Designed to fit your existing workflow, ROCK IMAGER integrates with ROCK MAKER® Crystallization Software or your current crystallization software.
Using ROCK MAKER, you can design experiments and dispense ingredients with your dispensing robot. After ROCK IMAGER images your drops, view the images in ROCK MAKER, score them, and then optimize around hits to develop new conditions.
Protecting Your Samples
Gentle Handling of Your Experiments
The ROCK IMAGER systems feature an array of sensors that work to protect your samples and provide fool-proof operation. If any of the sensors are triggered by an abnormal situation, the imager stops the motion before any damage is done.
Minimized Vibration
Innovative mechanical design, advanced vibration damping materials, and special motor tuning ensure extremely low vibration to c and minimize disturbance to the protein drops and conserve image quality.
Nightly Self-Diagnostics
ROCK IMAGER sends nightly diagnostics reports to the Formulatrix support team. Our support technicians often solve problems before our customers are even aware they exist.
Easy-to-Use Software
ROCK IMAGER control software provides a user-friendly way to view imaging schedules, configure plate types, and capture multiple images of each drop. The control software creates image libraries of your drops that make viewing crystals simple.
The software can automatically adjust focus and exposure for each image, compute an Extended Focus Image (EFI) of each drop for the highest optical resolution, and identify plates. Advanced controls allow you to adjust settings such as exposure, polarization, condenser aperture, and auto-focus.
Use ROCK IMAGER as a High-Powered Microscope
ROCK IMAGER's intuitive software provides on-screen controls for you to move plates in three dimensions and even adjust the speed of the movement. Watch live as you control the camera and adjust exposure length, resolution and other settings to get the best image possible.
