AMNIS UNVEILS MULTIPLE UPGRADES TO IMAGESTREAM SYSTEM.

Amnis Corporation, Seattle, has released two major upgrades to its ImageStream system including the Commercial release of a multilaser capability and the Beta release of a new technology for dramatically extending the depth of field well beyond conventional optical limitations.

The Multilaser upgrade provides the customer with the flexibility of adding two additional lasers including a 405nm (violet) laser and a 658nm (red) laser. These lasers provide for increased experimental flexibility and sophistication by greatly expanding the fluorescent dye selection available to the customer. The upgrade is accompanied by a novel enhancement to the optical system which provides precise chromatic correction for lower wavelength dyes excited by the 405nm laser. The enhancement enables high resolution imagery resulting from fluorescence excitation from all three lasers to be captured simultaneously across the entire visible spectrum. Customers who purchase the 405nm laser can now perform cell cycle, mitotic analysis and other experiments incorporating the widely-used DNA binding dyes DAPI and Hoechst. The 658nm red laser provides similar advantages for a broad range of red fluorescent dyes. The laser options have been designed for field-based installation and are currently being installed at existing customer sites throughout the world. New instruments are also being shipped per customer order with one, two or all three lasers installed.

The Extended Depth of Field (EDF) upgrade, currently in Beta testing at seven customer sites, has demonstrated up to a 10 fold increase depth of field allowing cellular structures to be imaged in crisp focus at positions well beyond the limitations of conventional imaging techniques. The EDF technology employs a Wavefront Coded(TM) optical element, developed by CDM Optics of Boulder, Colorado, operating in concert with rapid optical deconvolution algorithms developed by Amnis Corporation. The EDF option was specifically developed to address emerging research and clinical applications in high throughput cellular genetics. William Ortyn, Amnis COO, said "We are extremely pleased with the results of the this work. We now have several ongoing collaborations directed toward clinical testing of the ImageStream with the EDF option." to enable the early detection of cancer." Dr. David Basiji, Amnis CEO, stated "The new capabilities enabled by both the Multilaser and EDF options bring new strengths to the platform to better serve our customer base. These options, in conjunction with our FISHIS(R) technology, also begin to lay the foundation for the advancement of the platform into the clinical marketplace."

Amnis Corporation, headquartered in Seattle, WA, develops, manufactures and markets the ImageStream system for high speed imaging of cells in flow. The ImageStream system generates six high resolution microscopic images of cells as they flow through the instrument at rates up to 300 cells per second. Offering a truly unique combination of the visual power of microscopy and the statistical power of flow cytometry, the ImageStream system enables scientists to conduct highly advanced research in hematology, immunology and oncology.

For more information, visit http://www.amnis.com or call 206/576-6890.