Live-Cell Imaging in your Incubator

The IncuCyte™ system is designed to provide continuous, time-lapse images of live cells from within your own standard cell-culture incubator.
Users program the system to acquire images at different spatial locations and time points via a network-accessible Graphical User Interface. The system then automatically focuses on each spatial location and acquires the successive images automatically, around-the-clock. Once the digital images are collected, custom image processing software calculates and graphs a variety of application-based image metrics ranging from monolayer confluence and object count, to micro tube length and branching.

In addition to the pre-defined metrics, users also have the ability to export individual images or time-lapse movies in a variety of formats.

IncuCyte™ is useful for a range of both labeled and non-labeled applications.  Initially, the system was designed to provide non-perturbing (label-free), kinetic growth curves using a built-in confluence algorithm.   The labor-free, automated image collection also provides a convenient method to digitally archive cell growth and morphology in real-time.  Together, these tools have proven very useful for cell culture QC, QA and as a cell-based assay optimization tool.   Our latest fluorescent version enables the ability to follow live-cell reporters in time.  We have also developed a series of built-in processing metrics, and currently provide kinetic, quantitative read-outs for cell migration, cell proliferation, as well as co-culture angiogenesis (see Downloads).

There are three different versions of the IncuCyte™.

• IncuCyte™ Plus is a phase-only imaging system which is intended for non-labeled applications. This system can be fitted with or without the proprietary HD Optics

• IncuCyte^FLR is the newest model, which incorporates both HD Phase and single-channel fluorescence. The system is also configurable for different objectives

• IncuCyte^EX is a robot-friendly version, intended for integration in automated cell culture and assays systems

The IncuCyte™ Plus and IncuCyte^FLR microscope gantry will hold many different types and brands of cell culture vessels including dishes, T-flasks and microplates. Capacity depends on the type of vessel, but for reference the system can hold up to 6 microplates.  Users can mix & match vessel types using three different tray positions and the cells remain stationary during image acquisition facilitating imaging on non-adherent cell lines.

Software Architecture
The unique client-server-based user interface allows for multiple computers to access the IncuCyte™ in order to set up image acquisition, retrieve data or perform image analysis across the local network. This makes kinetic imaging easy and accessible to multiple users.


Graphical User Interface (GUI)
When you ask a current user what they like best about IncuCyte™, many will tell you it is our GUI. The software interface allows users to easily set up data collection and analyze results.

Some of the featured highlights of the interface include: