Azure Biosystems, Sapphire FL, biomolecular, IS4000
The Sapphire FL is the second-generation Sapphire platform and an advanced biomolecular imaging system designed for maximum flexibility and performance. Featuring customizable, user-interchangeable laser and filter modules, it can be easily adapted to meet evolving laboratory requirements and emerging research applications.
The Sapphire FL provides customizable optical configurations, scan resolutions ranging from 5 to 1000 μm, and a Z-plane imaging range from -1.0 mm to +6.0 mm. It is ideally suited for laboratories requiring exceptional imaging sensitivity, ultra-high resolution (down to 5 μm), an extended dynamic range exceeding 7 logs, and a large field of view with a 25 cm × 25 cm scannable area.
Designed to support diverse and rapidly changing research workflows, the Sapphire FL delivers the performance, versatility, and scalability needed for both current and future imaging applications.
Unlimited Laser and Filter Wavelength combinations
It features a unique, patent-pending design of interchangeable and customizable laser and filter modules, enabling a virtually infinite number of spectral combinations. A broad range of excitation and emission wavelengths, as well as phosphor imaging, are supported.
- 488 Standard Optical Module Ex: 488nm, Em: 513/17nm, PMT
- 532 Standard Optical Module Ex:532nm, Em: 572/28nm, APD
- 685 Standard Optical Module Ex: 685nm, Em: 720/24nm, APD
Adjustable Focus
Some samples can be imaged on the glass (Western blots, DNA microarrays) while others are raised above the glass surface (96-well plates). The Sapphire FL can image them all.
Some samples have multiple focal points within them, such as tissue slides and organs. The Sapphire FL can image those too.
It offers a 7mm software-controlled adjustable focal plane, so you can scan your sample at multiple depths to ensure you see all your data has to offer.
| RPI Users | External Nonprofit | External Industry | External Industry Partners | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (per sample) | $23 | $38 | $76 | $68 |
| Assisted | $46 | $76 | $151 | $136 |
| Training | $89 | $146 | $293 | $264 |
| RPI Users | External Nonprofit | External Industry | External Industry Partners | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Time | $77 | $127 | $253 | $228 |
Effective August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026. Rates are hourly unless specified otherwise and are subject to change without further notice.
Required Acknowledgement and Authorship
Please acknowledge the CBIS Core Facilities in all publications and grant applications where our equipment and/or personnel have facilitated the work. These acknowledgements are very important because documenting our contributions helps to ensure that the resources of the Core Facilities are sustainable.
- Equipment: If you used Core Facility equipment, please note this in the Materials and Methods. e.g., Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out using a TA Instruments TGA-Q50 (Rensselaer CBIS Analytical Biochemistry Core Facility).
- Personnel: Please consider including CBIS personnel as co-authors on your publications when they have made a significant intellectual contribution to the research. Include CBIS Core Facility directors or staff as co-PI or co-investigators in grant applications when they provide a significant contribution to the grant proposal and scientific/intellectual leadership for the proposed work. Please follow these guidelines: ABRF Recommended Guidelines for Authorship on Manuscripts. Also, our Core Facility personnel always appreciate when they are mentioned in the Acknowledgements section of publications.
- Required Funding Authorization Form: Rensselaer researchers must fill out the CBIS Cores Authorization Form (PDF) to use the CBIS Core Facilities.
