Key Benefits
- Patented first-surface thermal control — ITO-coated Microaqueduct Slide heats at the specimen surface — not the stage — delivering ±0.2°C accuracy with seconds-fast re-stabilisation after perfusion
- User-definable flow geometry — select gasket thickness (0.1–1.0 mm) and cavity dimensions for each experiment; control laminar flow rate and shear force applied to cells
- Compatible with all microscopes and modes — FCS2 (inverted) and FCS3 (upright) work with any brand and any imaging mode — brightfield, DIC, fluorescence, confocal, TIRF
- Closed system — supports CO₂/bicarbonate buffers, organic buffers, and humidified environments without dedicated incubation enclosures
Overview
Bioptechs designs and manufactures micro-environmental control systems for live-cell microscopy, enabling long-term imaging of cells, tissue slices, and suspended specimens under physiological conditions. Their flagship FCS chamber systems use patented Microaqueduct Slide technology — an ITO (indium tin oxide) coated glass slide that delivers first-surface thermal control directly at the specimen, achieving ±0.2°C temperature accuracy with rapid re-stabilisation after perfusion events.
The FCS2 (Focht Chamber System 2) is designed for inverted microscopes and provides a parallel-plate, high-NA-compatible flow cell with user-definable optical cavity volume and flow channel geometry. Laminar or modified flow options allow researchers to apply defined shear forces to adherent cells. The closed system supports CO₂/bicarbonate and organic buffers, making it suitable for demanding live-cell protocols. The FCS3 brings the same capabilities to upright microscope configurations — the only chamber to combine high-volume laminar perfusion with Köhler illumination and precise temperature control without an air curtain.
The Bioptechs Delta T Dish System extends these capabilities to standard culture dishes for long-term time-lapse imaging, maintaining cells in their native dish without transfer. With over 150 products including objective heaters, stage warmers, perfusion accessories, and custom geometries, Bioptechs offers a complete solution for any live-cell imaging environmental control requirement.
Key Features
- FCS2 Chamber: inverted microscope, parallel-plate high-NA flow cell, 23 mm or 30 mm aperture
- FCS3 Chamber: upright microscope, laminar perfusion with Köhler illumination, no air curtain required
- Delta T Dish System: ITO-coated dish bottom for long-term time-lapse without specimen transfer
- Patented Microaqueduct Slide with ITO coating for first-surface thermal control
- Temperature accuracy: ±0.2°C (ambient to 50°C)
- Gasket thickness range: 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm (user-selectable geometry)
- Laminar, modified, and defined-shear flow configurations
- Closed system compatible with CO₂/bicarbonate and organic buffers
- 40 mm coverslip (#1.5) for high-resolution optics
- Compatible with 1/16" perfusion tubing (C-Flex, Tygon)
- Compatible with all microscope brands and imaging modalities
- Complete range of accessories: objective heaters, stage warmers, perfusion pumps, controllers
Typical Applications
- Live-cell fluorescence and confocal microscopy
- Long-term time-lapse cell imaging
- Shear stress experiments on adherent cells
- Microinjection, electrostimulation, micromanipulation
- Electrophysiology recordings under optical observation
- Tissue slice imaging
- Developmental biology, oncology, immunology, neuroscience
- Calcium signalling and ion channel studies
Specifications
| FCS2 aperture | 23 mm or 30 mm |
|---|---|
| FCS3 aperture | Standard (tool-free assembly) |
| Coverslip | 40 mm glass #1.5 (both FCS2 and FCS3) |
| Gasket thickness | 0.1–1.0 mm (user-selectable) |
| Temperature accuracy | ±0.2°C |
| Temperature range | Above and below ambient to 50°C |
| Thermal control method | ITO first-surface (Microaqueduct Slide) |
| Perfusion tubing | 1/16" (C-Flex, Tygon compatible) |
| Microscope compatibility | All brands; FCS2 (inverted), FCS3 (upright) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the FCS2 and FCS3 chambers?
The FCS2 is designed for inverted microscopes and the FCS3 for upright microscopes. Both use the same patented Microaqueduct Slide technology and achieve ±0.2°C temperature accuracy. The FCS3 is the only upright-microscope chamber that combines high-volume laminar perfusion with Köhler illumination and precision temperature control without requiring an air curtain.
Are Bioptechs chambers compatible with my microscope?
Yes. FCS2 and FCS3 chambers are compatible with all major microscope brands (Nikon, Zeiss, Olympus, Leica) and all imaging modalities — brightfield, DIC, phase contrast, fluorescence, confocal, TIRF, and two-photon.
Can I control CO₂ and humidity in the chamber?
The closed-system design supports CO₂/bicarbonate buffers and organic buffers without requiring a dedicated incubation enclosure. An open system can be configured with appropriate gas perfusion accessories for humidified CO₂ atmosphere.
How quickly does the chamber re-stabilise temperature after a perfusion change?
Because the Microaqueduct Slide heats at the specimen surface (not the microscope stage), temperature re-stabilises within seconds of perfusion — significantly faster than stage-top incubators that heat the surrounding air.
Ready to discuss the FCS Flow Cell Chambers?
Talk to our team about specifications, pricing, and availability for your application.