• Fast and high throughput analysis of objects plated on any clear bottom microplate in <3 minutes.  With automation it can be configured to acquire in excess of 150,000 wells in an 8 hour day
• Whole well scanning gathers data from large fields-of-view and sufficient objects for statistical validity.  Reduces the number of cells used as compared to standard microplate readers.
• Large depth of field (+/- 200 microns) eliminates focus steps during acquisition and provides easy imaging of large objects such as 3D cell cultures, mammospheres or zebrafish embryos.
• Patented confined detection region reduces background from out of focus fluorescence and enables homogeneous / no-wash fluorescence assays like cell surface marker detection (e.g., E-cadherin), fluorescent ligand-receptor interactions, or antibody discovery.
• Anisotropy detection mode enables solution and bead fluorescent polarization assays as well as simplified live cell FRET assays.  
• Laser scatter mode for label-free detection of cells when intervening with dyes is not acceptable, for example in quality control of sterile cell cultures.
• Microplate-based environment streamlines evaluation of both adherent and suspension cells and eliminates separation steps for adherent cells or colonies often required for flow cytometry or other non-plate based systems.
• On-the-fly analysis enables users to simultaneously acquire, count, and measure objects so that results are available at the end of each scan.
• Robust, simple, and fast object detection means no microscopic imaging experience is required for setup making it easy for anyone in the lab to establish and run assays. 
• Cell-by-cell and well-by-well results of object intensity, area, and shape are generated during each scan, allowing easy classification and gating of objects to streamline your work flow.
• Output data in a variety of formats (.csv, .txt, .fcs) for easy downstream analysis and manipulation in a variety of software packages including FACS software.
• MDCStore™ Data Management Solution compatible files facilitate analysis with MetaXpress® and AcuityXpress™ Software for quantifying objects like zebrafish embryos or enterprise level data visualization and trend analysis.

Large format imaging: Evaluating labeled or unlabeled cell colonies during vaccine development or while studying stem cell division and differentiation can provide powerful insight into cell population dynamics.  Scientists studying toxicology, developmental biology, or off-target drug effects can get increased biorelevance in understanding a system by using whole animal models such as zebrafish embryos or C. elegans. The ImageXpress Velos Laser Scanning Cytometer utilizes a thick depth-of-field, light scatter, and fluorescence to allow you to collect whole well, microscope slide, or petri-well plate images of these large objects without repeated focusing, reconstructing z-slices, or stitching fields-of-view together. Images can be analyzed during the scan for colony size or number; organisms can be scored based on their morphology or intensity. For more specialized processing, images can be imported into MetaXpress Software and analyzed using an applications module such as angiogenesis or neurite outgrowth. To learn more about MetaXpress Application Modules including Neurite outgrowth and Angiogenesis click here.

Zebrafish embryos expressing GFP in blood vessels were imaged in both scatter and fluorescece mode. Embryos were dispensed into 384-well plates for toxicity testing. High speed acquisition with on-the-fly analysis of whole well images opens up a multitude of applications.	Single image of a well in a 96-well plate containing a monoclonal cell colony stained with a live-cell fluorescent stain.

• Novel Imaging and Analysis of Zebrafish for High-Throughput Screening
• High Throughput Anchorage-Independent Cell Colony Growth Assay
• Application Note - High Throughput Anchorage-Independent Cell Colony Assay

Image-based cytometry: Counting and classifying a large population of objects from an acquired image prior to segmentation using a flow cytometry-type of analysis is called image-based cytometry.  One advantage of image-based cytometry is adherent or non-adherent cells remain within a 96- or 384-well plate during imaging. If desired, cells can receive further treatment to explore more parameters or be stored for re-imaging at a later time. Whole well images of cell populations or stem cell colonies can be acquired and analyzed within minutes using the ImageXpress Velos Cytometer, and the resulting data can be exported as a *.fcs file or *.tif image for plotting and categorization in flow cytometry software or an enhanced image-based cytometry package.

Left - The combination SCF, Flk3, TPO caused differentiation of a greater number of erythroid (CD34+) cells.  Right - SCF, IL-3, GM-CSF promoted differentiation of cells toward (CD15+) myeloid cell phenotype. Percent and numbers of CD34+ or CD15+ cells were measured on the cytometer.

Learn more:

• High-Throughput Analysis of Hematopoietic Stem Cells Differentiation and Hematopoietic Toxicity

Screening: RNAi or compound screening is commonly used to understand the effect of gene silencing or to find therapies for nearly every human disease ranging from metabolic disorders to cancer to heart disease. Many of these assays require the detection of one to four fluorescent markers within a primary or cultured immortalized cell line. Utilizing the whole-well imaging of the ImageXpress Velos Cytometer, with on-the-fly image analysis, results can be obtained in less than 3 minutes per microplate, regardless of well density, and saved in many different file output formats for further analysis. The system is ideal for detecting responses such as apoptosis, cytotoxicity, mitotic arrest, DNA damage, phosphorylation, or ligand binding events.

	Top - Two color ratiometric assay for mitotic index in 96 well plates.  Chromium 488 (green) indicates phospho-histone3 presence.  Propidium Iodide (red) stains all cells.
	Bottom - 96-well OrisTM Cell Migration Assay from Platypus Technologies. Image on the left is from well with compound that inhibited migration into the detection zone. Image on the right is from a DMSO control treated well. The assay works well with live or fixed cells in both fluorescence or scatter mode. Cells shown were fixed and stained with propidium iodide.

Learn more:

• High Throughput RNAi Screen for DNA Damage
  
• Total and Phospho-Protein Detection; p38 MAPK Activation

Homogeneous assays: Hybridoma cell lines are cultured for production of monoclonal antibodies for use in diagnostics, vaccine development, or therapeutics. Screening for the antibodies can be done using a homogeneous assay that measures the binding of a fluorescently labeled antibody to a bead or cell surface while ignoring fluorescence left in the background solution. The angled collection optics of the ImageXpress Velos Cytometer are optimal for these assays, rejecting background fluorescence while detecting bound fluorescently labeled antibodies with high reproducibility and sensitivity. By analyzing during the scan, whole plate results are available within 5-10 minutes, regardless of well density.

Homogenous bead assay performed in 384-well plate.  Left well shows detection of low concentration of primary antibody. Right shows a well with high concentration of primary antibody.  Fluorescent secondary antibody is same concentration in all wells and not removed.  Sensitivity is equivalent to the ABI 8200 Cellular Detection System (FMAT).

• Homogeneous High-Throughput Live Cell GPCR Binding Assay
• Homogeneous High-Throughput Cell Surface Binding Assay for Antibody Discovery

Fluorescence polarization or anisotropy: These assays are routinely used during high-throughput screening for measuring kinase, phosphatase, ATP activity, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and many ligand-receptor binding events. Anisotropy can be measured in either a bulk biochemical assay or on an object-by-object basis using the ImageXpress Velos Cytometer. An anisotropy assay, with up to 2 different fluorophores per well, can be scanned and analyzed on-the-fly in 2-5 minutes, providing cell-by-cell detail not found in microplate reader applications.

Learn more:

• High Throughput Fluorescence Polarization Screening Assays
• Application Note - Bead Binding by Anisotropy
• Anisotropy Technology Review

• Apoptosis
• Cell cycle
• Cell proliferation
• Cell Migration or Invasion
• Cytotoxicity
• Cell- or bead-based homogeneous assays
• Hybridoma screening
• Adherent cell cytometry
• Single cell phospho-protein detection
• Protein-protein interactions in living cells
• Spot- and bead-based arrays in plates
• Stem cell or primary cell surface marker expression
• Toxicity in model organisms

The ImageXpress Velos SL Cytometer is a single-laser system configured from the selection of laser lines offered. The ImageXpress Velos DL Cytometer is a dual-line laser system consisting of a 488 nm laser system plus one additional laser line from the selection of laser lines offered. Note the ImageXpress Velos Cytometer is a Class I Laser Product.

Laser lines offered and selectable through software

• 405 nm
• 440 nm
• 488 nm
• 532 nm
• 640 nm

User selectable detection modes via software

• Four independently adjustable photomultiplier tubes
• Fluorescence
  • 4 color simultaneous
• Anisotropy / Fluorescence Polarization
  • 2 color simultaneous
• Laser scatter

Space and Weight Specifications

in = inches, lbs = pounds, cm = centimeters, Kg = Kilograms

The ImageXpress Velos Cytometer is covered under multiple United States and international pending patents.

The ImageXpress Velos Cytometer includes software for simultaneous analysis with acquisition.  For more customized analysis or to take advantage of the MetaXpress® Software application modules, images can be imported into MDCStore™ Data Management Solution and analyzed with MetaXpress®, MetaXpress® PowerCore™, or AcuityXpress™ Software packages which are options available for purchase with the ImageXpress Velos Cytometer.

• See a list of MetaXpress Software Application Modules

This data analysis and reporting package designed by De Novo Software provides dynamic insight to multi-parametric data sets so you can identify common or rare events within large cell populations.  Leveraging their flow cytometry interface, your can seamlessly work between all data: plots, images and cell galleries to optimize, QC or better understand your biology.  Learn more.

Product Collateral

• ImageXpress Velos System brochure
• Molecular Devices® Complete Imaging Solution brochure
• High content imaging application notes
• High content imaging scientific posters

Product FAQ

• ImageXpress and MetaXpress suite of products knowledgebase
• MetaXpress Software discussion forum

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• Support contacts