Daylight Solutions, Inc., a leading manufacturer of molecular detection and imaging solutions in the mid-infrared, today announced the launch of the world’s first commercially available laser-based infrared microscopy platform. The microscope, marketed under the name Spero™, opens up a new world of research possibilities with breakthrough chemical imaging and analysis on a real-time basis. Powered by Daylight’s proven broadly tunable Quantum Cascade Laser technology and designed specifically for analyzing biomedical and materials research samples, Spero offers a unique combination of unparalleled visibility, instantaneous results in “live mode,†and a small resource footprint to easily fit into any lab setting.
By seamlessly incorporating a high-brightness, broadly tunable mid-infrared laser source, Spero provides unprecedented image resolution with an ultra-wide field of view. This unique combination enables researchers to observe micron-scale features while also covering large areas very quickly for high-throughput applications. The instrument operates in the feature-rich mid-infrared region and provides high-fidelity spectral data for the accurate identification of molecular and chemical components of complex, heterogeneous samples. Unlike current FTIR-based instruments, full-spectrum, high-resolution hyperspectral data cubes can be collected in just minutes and with the revolutionary “live mode†capability, users can observe samples with discrete frequency illumination, allowing real-time imaging of individual spectral features. All of these capabilities are combined in a compact, desktop form factor that requires no liquid nitrogen cooling.
“I was able to do more in the small amount of time that I spent with Daylight’s Spero than I could ever do back home with the systems we have,†says Dr. Michael Walsh, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “This microscope greatly exceeded my expectations.â€