SLICE: Breakthrough Light Sheet Imaging for Under $75,000
For years, light sheet microscopy has stood out as a powerful technique, enabling stunning 3D imaging of large, live, and delicate biological samples. Its unique ability to provide deep tissue penetration with minimal phototoxicity has driven significant discoveries across neuroscience, developmental biology, and beyond.
However, the path to acquiring this cutting-edge technology has been steep for most. High-end legacy light sheet systems often come with instrument price tags ranging from $350,000 to over $750,000, frequently escalating further with necessary add-ons like specialized objectives and multiple laser lines. This substantial upfront investment, coupled with complex operation and the necessity for expensive, separate annual service contracts and software licenses (often totaling $65,000 or more per year for a competitor’s system), has largely confined this transformative technology to a select few well-funded core facilities or specialized research institutions.
The paradigm is shifting.
Move Beyond Traditional Light Sheet Microscopes. Meet SLICE.
At MBF Bioscience, our mission is to empower scientific discovery by making advanced tools truly accessible. We developed SLICE: The New Standard in Light Sheet Microscopy to directly address the economic and operational barriers that have historically limited access to this crucial technology.
How Innovative Design Delivers Superior Image Quality and Unprecedented Affordability
Unlike legacy light sheet systems that often rely on older, less optimized designs and costly, custom-fabricated components, SLICE is engineered from the ground up using groundbreaking optical designs and advanced manufacturing techniques. This innovation allows us to achieve both dramatic cost reductions and deliver image quality that is not just comparable, but demonstrably superior to many legacy systems.
- Pioneering Optical Path: SLICE incorporates a more efficient, simplified optical layout that achieves high performance while fundamentally reducing manufacturing complexity. This innovative approach yields clearer, higher-resolution images with less aberration and increased signal-to-noise, surpassing what many traditional, more expensive systems can offer.
- Next-Generation Engineering: By focusing on smart design and leveraging the latest advancements in microscopy engineering, we’ve bypassed the exorbitant costs associated with older, less optimized designs. This allows us to deliver top-tier performance and superior image fidelity without the “boutique” pricing of historically specialized parts.
This modern approach to microscopy engineering allows us to offer SLICE at a disruptive acquisition cost of less than $75,000. This isn’t a scaled-down toy; it’s a meticulously engineered instrument designed for serious science that fits within typical grant budgets and redefines the entry point for advanced 3D imaging.
Transparent and All-Inclusive Annual Support & Software
Beyond the initial purchase, the long-term operational costs of traditional systems can be substantial. Legacy systems often require separate, costly annual service contracts (e.g., 10% of instrument cost) and additional annual licenses for image processing, analysis, and visualization software.
Our annual cost of ownership for SLICE is a transparent $5,000 per year. This single, comprehensive fee covers both hardware service and ongoing BrightSLICE software updates and technical support. This predictable, bundled fee eliminates hidden costs and simplifies budgeting for your research, offering a dramatic contrast to competitor models.
Designed for Ease of Use
Operating advanced microscopy should not be a bottleneck. SLICE is engineered for intuitive setup and streamlined workflows, significantly reducing the learning curve. This allows researchers to maximize time on experimentation and data acquisition, rather than instrument operation and troubleshooting. For core facilities, it translates to faster user onboarding and increased instrument throughput.
Empowering Your Next Discovery
The landscape of light sheet microscopy is evolving, and SLICE is leading the charge by making high-impact 3D imaging both accessible and highly cost-effective, while setting a new benchmark for image quality. Whether your aim is to bring cutting-edge capabilities directly into your individual lab, to enhance and expand the services of your core facility, or to accelerate drug discovery workflows in a biotech setting, SLICE represents a new standard.
Don’t let historical cost structures and outdated technology limit your scientific potential. Discover how SLICE can power your next breakthrough in high-performance 3D imaging.
