Stereo Investigator Highlights

Stereo Investigator is continuously undergoing development to meet new research challenges and streamline analyses. Version 9 is easier to use with the addition of new workflow technology and probe interfaces to assist with high-throughput stereology and unattended image stack collection. Stereology results can now be exported directly into Microsoft Excel, offline stereology allows you to capture images and analyze them away from the microscope, and mobile licensing allows you to move your license key between multiple workstations. Stereo Investigator’s compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows 7 means you can load and work with larger images, image stacks, and virtual slides.

If you already own Stereo Investigator and want to upgrade, please click here . If you are interested in purchasing Stereo Investigator, you can request further information or a quotation by clicking here . Keep in mind that you can purchase multiple workstation licenses to perform stereology analysis off-line from the microscope in your lab.

SI-Workflow Window

Pulmonary Edition

Stereo Investigator Pulmonary Edition introduces the Connectivity Assay for counting alveoli. Using live video superimposed over captured images, you can quickly mark bridges and islands. Stereo Investigator’s Intuitive Worklflow, utilizing the ConnEulor probe, guides you step-by-step through the estimation process. Final displayed results can be transferred directly to Microsoft Excel.

The Optical Fractionator Workflow

In Stereo Investigator, using the Optical Fractionator probe is easier and more productive, letting you model various experimental scenarios. The Workflow manages your work, step-by-step, making it much easier to train people to perform stereology. At each step of the way, the Workflow will guide you to perform the proper action and will even warn you of incorrectly entered data and alert you when attempting actions that could comprise your experimental results. Users of the Workflow have commented that the Workflow is a true breakthrough in applied stereology.

“The Optical Fractionator Workflow in this latest release of Stereo Investigator is a great tool. I’ve trained many new users in stereology and I know this will help users get started with stereological sampling more efficiently and quickly.”
Letia Peterson, Lab Manager, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University

Improved Support for Fully Automated Microscopes

We have direct support for fully automated microscopes including the Zeiss AxioImager and AxioObserver, Nikon 90i, Olympus BX61 and Leica DM microscopes. Our software allows direct control of the microscope’s components such as nosepiece, lighting and focus controls, shutter, filter wheel, and other motorized devices.

Camera Support

Stereo Investigator now supports Zeiss High Resolution Microscopy Cameras, including AxioCam HRc, AxioCam HRm, AxioCam MRc, and AxioCam MRm. We also support binning on the low-light cameras with automatic exposure adjustments. A sensitivity control was added to the Hamamatsu and Cooke cameras. A tool for live video histogram has been added for easy control of exposure time, and clipping, and logarithmic scaling.

Spinning Disk Confocal – Tight Integration

You can use Stereo Investigator to perform stereology on a spinning disk confocal microscope. We have integrated with the BD Biosciences CARV II and the Olympus DSU system, where the Stereo Investigator software fully controls the spinning disk, filter wheels, motorized stage and camera.

  • full microscope device control of spinning disk, shutters, filter selection, dual cameras (front and back), motorized stage.
  • acquire multi-channel confocal image stacks for off-line stereology analysis
  • create large montages in confocal, epi-fluorescent and brightfield modes
  • capture image stacks at systemized random sites and perform counting, measuring and analysis off-line from the microscope

Laser Scanning Confocal Support

Stereo Investigator can be used to interface to the Olympus Fluoview 300, 500, and 1000 microscopes to perform confocal stereology.

Print and Online Documentation

A printed manual – 26 chapters, 637 pages. We also provide online Help with index to assist you in finding topics faster.

Dockable Windows and Toolbars

With Stereo Investigator you can have more control over floating, dockable windows and dialogs. Grab a dialog or window, and drag in any direction. On-screen arrows show you the available docking locations. When the docking area turns blue, release the mouse button, and you’re finished. The docking and toolbar placement allows you to configure the work environment across one or two monitors in the way you prefer.

Dockables:

  • Workflows (Optical Fractionator, Physical Fractionator, AutoNeuron)
  • Camera settings
  • Macro View
  • Serial Section Manager
  • SRS serial section acquire

Multiple Monitor Support

Many of our customers are now requesting dual, 24 inch LCD monitors to perfor the work. The stereology tools can be placed on one monitor while the microscope image and stereology probe appear on the second monitor.

Video Image Alpha Blending

Blending live video and acquired images allows you to superimpose an acquired image over a video image and set the opacity of the overlay. This facilitates performing stereology with alternately stained sections – you can stain one section for cells and an adjacent section for cytoarchectural boundaries.

Toolbars that You can Fully Customize

We’ve made improvements to the Stereo Investigator 7 look and feel. You can customize and personalize the Toolbar so that Stereo Investigator 7 works the way that you do. Add commands to a toolbar, move commands around—make the Toolbar your own!
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Compact Image Organizer

The Image organized faclitates working with numerous images and image stacks. It displays acquired images and stacks in either summary or detail mode, with options to remove, center or hide the images you choose. You can also remove a single image of a stack with a keystroke, allowing you to remove upper or lower images that either contain unspecified stain or have been overexposed.

Densitometry Extended

A tool for grain counting can be integrated with systematic random sampling.

Stereology Results Display

Stereo Investigator automatically calculates the results of each stereological probe. You can group your probe runs and display them together. Analyze a single specimen with numerous probes to quantify various anatomical properties. For instance, Cavalieri for volume, Optical Fractionator for cell number, Nearest Neighbor for spatial distribution, and Nucleator for cell size. All can be managed in a single data file.

Physical Fractionator, Physical Disector

Stereo Investigator version 7 and higher has the most efficent and easy to use Physical Fractionator available. Alignment between adjacent sections is swift and precise. Counting is unambiguous. A Workflow simplifies the process and makes learning this technique fast.

Serial Section Reconstruction Capability

Fast and serial section alignment with translation and rotation. Combine separate section files into a single serial section reconstruction.

3D Solids View

A 3D solids view is now integrated into Stereo Investigator. You can view and rotate serial section reconstructions in 3D, change lighting and reflection option, display contour sets and solid sheets, lines or a mesh. A capture to video option is also available, making it easier for researcher to capture movies for display on the web or to present to colleagues.

For more information about Stereo Investigator, call us at 802.288.9290 or click here to request a price quotation.