A new technology for fluorescence imaging...
Photonic Research Systems presents the Imagex Time-Gated CCD camera system; A complete solid state  imaging system with sub-microsecond gating performance in a simple-to-use integrated hardware and software package. Imagex cameras offer unparalleled performance and value for money and, unlike intensified CCD systems can safely be used in a wide range of laboratory and industrial environments. To find out why Imagex cameras are such an important development for FLIM and Time-Gated imaging please visit our Product, Downloads and FAQ pages.


Imagex cameras have an industry standard C-Mount video adaptor, so they can be used in a variety of imaging setups including microscopes (equipped with camera ports), macroscopes, (e.g. for gel, microplate and microarray imaging) and for longer distance sensing applications (e.g. Pressure sensitive paint measurements, remote sensing)

Time-Gated Imaging
The Imagex-TGi and Imagex-nanoCCD camera systems are directly-gated, cooled CCD imaging systems. They combine fast gating with low noise and high stability. Time-gating allows you to image long-lifetime labels even in samples where nothing can be seen with conventional imaging techniques.


All Imagex systems feature cooled CCD detectors, in-built frequency, delay and gate generators and frame readout circuitry. In the example below an Imagex-TGi system is driving a pulsed flashlamp at 300Hz to obtain high sensitivity images of an Europium cryptate-labelled DNA microarray. The nylon membrane used for DNA hybridisation in these images exhibits an intense, broad spectrum fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light. However because the nylon fluorescence is predominantly short lifetime (a few nanoseconds) it is sucessfully rejected by gated detection.

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM)
Imagex systems can also be used to measure Fluorescence Lifetime to generate new forms of contrast for singly and multiply-stained protein gels and blots. Because our systems do not use noisy intensifier technology our FLIM images have excellent signal-to-noise properties.

The Imagex nanoCCD features a programmable nanosecond delay unit. By varying the delay under software control the delay the user can collect a series of time-resolved images. Mathematical manipulation of these images allows Fluorescence Lifetime Images to be generated providing new forms of contrast and environmental sensitivity
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The Imagex Script processor allows you to perform complex series of mathematical manipulations on your time-resolved images. Scripts allow the whole process of FLIM imaging to be automated. When you have your FLIM image the Imagex software can combine the Intensity image with the Lifetime image to produce an ‘Intensity/FLIM matrix image’...

These are some examples of nanosecond lifetime images collected using the Imagex nanoCCD. The light source used in both cases was a solid state diode pumped frequency doubled/tripled YAG laser with <1 nsec pulse width. The ability to display multiple images and create intensity/lifetime ‘matrix’ images is integrated into the Imagex software package. PRS is currently assessing a number of nanosecond lightsources and is in the process of developing a turnkey FLIM system using this technology.

A growing range of Products and Services...
In addition to offering system components PRS can also offer complete Turnkey Time-Gated Imaging solutions and offer advice on how to configure systems to work with your own equipment. If you are interested in this exciting new development in fluorescence imaging please get in touch using the Contact PRS page. Meanwhile, we hope you find our website interesting and informative and look forward to your comments...