ICnano Specifications

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System

Magnification:	1,000x - 100,000x
Scan resolution:	20nm XY; 5nm Z
Scan time:	50s - 20min (typical, 5? x 5? and 90? x 90? respectively)
Image resolution:	128x128 - 1024x1024 pixels
Image formats:	IMG (16-bit greyscale); PNG; PSD (Photoshop)

Scan head

XY scan

Range:	100?m x 100?m
Resolution:	20nm overall (1nm for stage)
Linearity:	1%
Maximum pixel step rate:	1ms per pixel

Z scan

Range:	100?m, 25?m or 8?m
Resolution:	10nm or 5nm overall (1nm for stage)

Pipette

Tip diameter:	>50nm borosilicate; >10nm quartz
Typical surface proximity:	50-100nm for 100nm dia; 10-20nm for 20nm ?
Body diameter:	1mm

Positioning

Range:	15mm XY; 25mm Z
Resolution:	100nm

Amplifier

The ICnano SICM is supplied with an Axon Instruments CV-5 100MU headstage amplifier to buffer the low current signal from the scanning pipette. However, if an external amplifier is to be used, e.g. for patch clamping, it may be connected instead.

Feedback resistor:	100M?
Noise:	25?V/Hz typical at 10KHz
Input bias current:	1pA max at 25?C
Power supply:	?15V

Electrodes

Pipette:	silver/silver chloride wire
Bulk electrolyte:	silver/silver chloride pellet

Scan head assembly

Translation stage:	Physik Instrumente PI Hera P-6xx, 100?; PI LISA P-753, 25?
Motorised positioning:	Physik Instrumente M-111/112 DC motor translation stages
Overall dimensions:	Approx. 13cm (W) x 17cm (D) x 15cm (H)

Controller

DSP module

Innovative Integration, SBC6711, 32-bit, floating point, 150 MHz single-board computer, using TMS320C6711 DSP, with A4D4, four channel, 16-bit I/O module.

Piezo-electric driver

PI, E-500 modular amplifier system.

Software

Scan setup

The pre-scan user interface provides straightforward access to all scanning parameters, both basic - scan mode, type, resolution, XY range, offset and height range - and fine tuning - gain, convergence, threshold and modulation. Scan modes and types include single scan, continuous scanning, topography, ion current and second channel (e.g. fluorescence).

Scan management

During an active scan, the system displays scan progress in real time. For each parameter (topography, ion current and second channel), a window shows a progressive greyscale image and a profile of the current line (including line number and peak-to-peak height), along with any setup parameters that may be adjusted during the scan for fine-tuning.

Once the scan is complete, the image is processed to normalise the scan lines. The image may be examined, and saved if desired. If an area of interest is zoomed for closer inspection, the system prepares automatically a set of scanning parameters to enable a subsequent, higher resolution scan of that area. If the ICnano is operating in continuous scan mode, the image is saved using an incrementing filename and the next scan is started automatically.

Image processing

ICnano has a comprehensive set of image manipulation tools, designed to aid the analysis, exploration and presentation of scan data. Two separate channels of data, e.g. topography and fluorescence, may be combined in a variety of ways for display and analysis. The same software tools may be used also to work with bitmap data from other sources.

Global tools include zoom, brightness, contrast, false colour and colour palette. Retouch tools include scan line and area removal. Other global adjustments include slope correction and de-striping. A comprehensive and flexible set of spatial filters is provided, including smoothing and edge enhancement, along with FFT and de-convolution.

Local analytical tools include spot, length, area and volume measurement, profile along an arbitrary line (straight and freehand) and roughness.

Topographic data is stored in "top view" greyscale form. However, a rich set of 3D surface manipulation tools are provided. For speed, real time editing is carried out on a 256x256 pixel version of the image. Once committed, the full resolution image is processed. Facilities include scaling, rotation, elevation, flexible illumination, contouring and imposition of a second data channel onto the surface.

For presentation purposes, scan data may be formatted in a broad variety of ways, with supporting scales, legends, keys, annotation, colouring and background. Individual scans may be grouped in an "image stack" for consistent preparation or for display in an animated sequence. Original scan data may be displayed in a pseudo-live-scan.

System requirements

The software has been tested under Windows 98, 2000 and XP operating systems. Interface with the controller is via USB. The scanning system makes few demands of the host processor or memory. However, for best image display and manipulation, the PC configuration should include a minimum of 128Mb RAM and a 1024x768, 32-bit graphics adapter.

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