Leica DMi8 THUNDER Motorized Inverted Fluorescence Microscope with Adaptive Focus Control

The Leica DMi8 THUNDER Imager is a modular, motorized inverted fluorescence microscope optimized for widefield fluorescence and live-cell imaging applications, widely used in molecular diagnostics, biotechnology, and biomedical research. This microscope integrates THUNDER computational clearing technology to enhance image contrast by efficiently removing out-of-focus fluorescence background in real time, enabling improved visualization of thick specimens such as tissue sections, organoids, and 3D cell cultures—essential for synthetic biology, stem cell research, and bioprocessing workflows.

Key technical specifications include:

• Motorized components: XY scanning stage, external fluorescence axis, motorized filter cube turret (8-position), objective turret (6-position), condenser turret (7-position), and nosepiece, enabling automated multi-position, multi-channel, and z-stack imaging experiments.
• Fluorescence illumination: Integrated Lumencor LED5 light engine with remote control and new Leica fluorescence filters (DFT51011 and DFT5-EM filter wheel).
• Optics: Leica HC Plan Fluotar objectives (5x to 40x magnification, NA 0.15–0.80) providing high resolution and fluorescence transmission.
• Adaptive Focus Control (AFC): Maintains stable focus during time-lapse and live-cell fluorescence imaging by automated fine-coarse Z-axis control and parfocality adjustment.
• Detectors: Leica K5 sCMOS camera with multiple 100% camera ports for high sensitivity widefield fluorescence detection.
• Software: Leica LAS X platform with a full suite of acquisition modes including multi-channel, time lapse, mosaic plus, z-control/autofocus, and THUNDER OTF/3D DCV for enhanced image processing during acquisition.
• Brightfield capability: Tiltable transmitted LED illumination with ergonomic binocular tube and UV shield.
• Stage: Precision scanning stage (Marzhauser) with Smartmove joystick for accurate automated sample positioning.
• Customizable configuration: Options for phase contrast, DIC, polarization, advanced apochromat objectives, and high-end CCD, EMCCD camera upgrades, suitable for tailored biomanufacturing and molecular cloning workflows.
• Applications: Live-cell fluorescence imaging, multi-channel and time-lapse fluorescence microscopy, 3D z-stack imaging, quantitative fluorescence analysis, organoid and spheroid imaging, cell migration studies, and drug discovery screening.

This system is specifically engineered to enhance imaging clarity and speed for biotechnology and cell biology researchers requiring precise fluorescence imaging, computational background suppression, and automated stage control. The THUNDER technology uniquely offers GPU-accelerated real-time image enhancement without scan-based optics, minimizing phototoxicity—making it critical for high-throughput fluorescence and live-cell applications in molecular biology and synthetic biology research.

The purchase includes remote training for microscope operation and software overview, a continental USA 120-day warranty (60 days international), and thorough service with preventive maintenance and fluorescence intensity verification to ensure optimal performance. This instrument benefits biopharma production pipelines through reliable, high-contrast fluorescence visualization and robust automated imaging workflows.

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