Sony SA3800 Spectral Cell Analyzer: Revolutionizing Cellular Analysis
The Sony SA3800 spectral cell analyzer represents a groundbreaking advancement in flow cytometry, integrating sophisticated electronics and patented optical technologies to deliver exceptional analytical performance. Designed to streamline the entire workflow, from instrument startup to system maintenance, the SA3800 offers unparalleled automation and simplicity, making it suitable for both seasoned experts and newcomers to flow cytometry.
Advanced Spectral Technology
At the core of the SA3800’s capabilities is its spectral analysis technology, which significantly enhances sensitivity and facilitates the detection of dim signals. By capturing photons across a broad wavelength range from 420 nm to 800 nm, the SA3800 optimizes the detection of fluorescent signals. This spectral approach not only improves sensitivity but also simplifies the design and analysis of multicolor applications. Unlike traditional flow cytometers that rely on color compensation to subtract overlapping fluorescence, the SA3800 employs spectral unmixing. This method combines the fluorescence data from all channels and then mathematically separates the colors, yielding clearer and more accurate data. This process simplifies workflow, improves the visualization of autofluorescence, and enhances overall data quality.
Innovative Optical Technologies
The SA3800 features a unique prism-based collection system that directs emitted light to a 32-channel photomultiplier tube (PMT). This setup allows for the detection of 34 data points, capturing a comprehensive spectral fingerprint of each fluorochrome. The result is precise and accurate visualizations of fluorescent populations, providing researchers with detailed information about each marker’s spectral characteristics.
Spectral Unmixing
One of the standout features of the SA3800 is its ability to perform spectral unmixing. This powerful capability allows for the separation of overlapping fluorophores into pure signals, enabling more accurate measurement of each fluorochrome. Unlike conventional systems where overlapping signals can obscure data, spectral unmixing captures the full range of emitted photons, enhancing the detection of dim signals and rare populations. This technique also effectively handles autofluorescence by isolating and subtracting it from the signal, resulting in cleaner and more reliable data.
Automated Workflow
Automation is a key aspect of the SA3800, ensuring a streamlined and accurate workflow. The system is designed to handle a variety of standard and deep-well plates, as well as 12 x 75-mm 5-mL tubes. The novel 3D AutoSampler technology further enhances efficiency by moving the sample plate in both horizontal and vertical directions. This reduces sample-to-sample cross-contamination and speeds up cleaning processes. The fixed probe, combined with sensors that calculate the height of the sample container and automatically adjust for any contact, minimizes the risk of cross-contamination and flow problems, ensuring a reliable and consistent sample acquisition process.
User-Friendly Software
The SA3800 is equipped with intuitive software that simplifies every aspect of operation. From setup and panel design to data acquisition and analysis, the software provides step-by-step guidance. The user interface allows for customization of instrument settings and experiment configurations, accommodating both novice and experienced users. Key features include the Experimental Designer, which assists in creating experiments, and the Spectral Library, which facilitates the management of reagent data for future use.
System Standardization
The SA3800 includes a novel standardization feature that automatically sets the system to a master specification with a single click. This function eliminates variability between instruments, ensuring consistent and reliable results across different setups and locations. By reducing the potential for setup subjectivity, the standardization mode supports collaborative research and long-term studies, providing accurate and reproducible data regardless of operator experience.
Efficient Sample Acquisition and Analysis
The system’s software supports a range of acquisition functions, including the ability to control instrument settings and adjust acquisition speeds. The Walk Away Event Checker monitors the integrity of the sample stream, detecting issues such as air bubbles or low event rates, and can automatically clear clogs or continue to the next sample. The Autofluorescence Finder feature helps identify and subtract autofluorescent signals, ensuring that researchers obtain accurate representations of their fluorescent populations.
FCS Express Integration
The SA3800 comes with fully integrated FCS Express™ software from De Novo Software, providing advanced analysis tools for detailed data interpretation. This software supports a range of functions, including live gating, spectral overlays, tSNE, Spade, and heat maps. Live gating enables users to quickly and accurately identify positive and negative populations, enhancing the reliability of target population detection.
System Shutdown and Maintenance
At shutdown, the SA3800 software guides users through pre-cleaning procedures and automatically shuts down the instrument. The system also includes software wizards for bleach cleaning and rinsing, ensuring that the instrument is properly maintained and ready for future use.
In summary, the Sony SA3800 spectral cell analyzer stands out for its integration of advanced spectral technology, robust automation, and user-friendly software. Its ability to handle complex multicolor workflows with precision and ease makes it an ideal choice for research facilities seeking a high-performance, versatile analyzer. By combining cutting-edge optical technologies with comprehensive automation and intuitive software, the SA3800 offers a powerful solution for cellular acquisition and analysis, facilitating groundbreaking research in cellular biology.
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