
CQ1 Benchtop High-Content Analysis System

CQ1 enables 3D imaging and quantification of live cell clusters, such as spheroids within a 3D culture vessel, as they are, keeping the cells intact. CQ1 exports feature data in general formats which are readable by various third-party software for advanced data analysis. It is possible to construct fully customized CQ1-based system by integrating with external systems*1, via robot for culture dish handling.
CQ1 System Highlights
Excitation laser wavelength | 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 640 nm |
Illumination source | Laser |
Objective lens | 2x to 60x (Dry, Phase contrast, Long working distance) |
Camera | High-sensitivity sCMOS camera |
Autofocus | Laser autofocus, Software autofocus |
Software | CellPathfinder |
Overview
Enables measurement of spheroids, colonies and tissue sections

・No need to remove cells from culture dish, in contrast to traditional flow cytometry
・Nipkow spinning disk confocal technology allows high-speed yet gentle 3D image acquisition
・Rich feature extraction to facilitate sophisticated cellular image analysis
・Wide field of view and tiling capability enable easy imaging of large specimen
Enables analysis of time lapse and live cell
・High precision stage incubator and low phototoxicity of our confocal makes the analysis of time lapce and live cell are possible
・Max.20fps option for fast time lapce
High quality image and the similar operability to traditional flow cytometer
・Feature data and statistical graphs displayed in real-time with image acquisition
・Usuable high quality image as confocal micorscope image
・Easy to trace back to the original image from a graph spot, and make repetitive measurements
Open platform
・Connectable with external systems via handling robot *1
・Expandable to integrated system as image acquisition and quantification instrument
・FCS/CSV/ICE data format readable by third-party data analysis software
・A variety of cell culture and sample dishes are applicable
Compact footprint, light weight bench-top device; no need for darkroom
CQ1 | General fluorescent imaging | Flow cytometry | |
---|---|---|---|
Cell removal/suspension treatment | Not necessary | Not necessary | Necessary |
Cell image confirmation | Possible | Possible | Not possible |
Display feature data and graphs in real-time with imaging | Possible | Depends on devices | Possible |
3D data measurement | Possible | Not possible | Not possible |
Time lapse | Possible | Not possible | Not possible |
Multiple Functions
Multiple functions fully integrated in a compact box

Compact design contains fully integrated multiple functions to offer easy-to-handle confocal imaging system, without a need for complicated system integration; you only need to set a sample and run the software. User-friendly interface and versatile functions support your measurement and analysis.
Principles of the Microlens-enhanced Nipkow Disk Scanning Technology
A Nipkow spinning disk containing about 20,000 pinholes and a subsidiary spinning disk containing the same number of microlenses to focus excitation laser light into each corresponding pinhole are mechanically fixed on a motor, and very rapidly rotated. As a result, high-speed raster scan of the excitation lights on the specimen can be achieved.The pinhole and microlenses are arranged on each disk in our proprietary design to optimize raster scan. Multi-beam scanning not only increases scanning speed, but also results in significantly lower photobleaching and phototoxicity, because multi-beam excitation needs only low level of laser power on the specimen to fully excite fluorescence.
System Integration with CQ1
Specifications
Example of setup

Item | Specifications |
---|---|
Optics | Microlens enhanced dual wide Nipkow disk confocal, Phase contrast (Optional add-on) |
Laser/Filter | Laser : Choose 2-4 lasers from 405/488/561/640nm, 10-position Filter wheel (built-in) |
Camera | sCMOS 2560×2160pixel, 16.6×14.0mm |
Objective lens | Max.6 lenses (Dry: 2x, 4x, 10x, 20x, 40x Long working distance: 20x, 40x Phase contrast: 10x, 20x ) |
Sample vessel | Microplate (6, 24, 96, 384 well), Slide glass, Cover glass chamber*1, Dish (35, 60mm*1) |
XY stage | High-precision XY stage, designated resolution 0.1µm |
Z focus | Electric Z motor, designated resolution 0.1µm |
Autofocus | Laser autofocus, Software autofocus |
Feature data | Number of cells/cellular granules, Intensity, Volume, Surface area, Area, Perimeter, Diameter, Sphericity, Circularity, etc |
Data format | Image : 16bit TIFF file (OME-TIFF), PNG Numerical data : FCS, CSV, ICE |
Workstation | Measurement and analysis workstation |
Size/weight | Main unit : 600×400×298mm 38kg Utility box : 275×432×298mm 18kg |
Environment | 15 – 30oC、20 – 70%RH No condensation |
Power consumption | Main unit and Utility box : 100-240VAC 800VAmax, Workstation : 100-240VAC 650VAmax |