The Movable Objective Microscope (MOM) is a two-photon microscope capable of imaging deep within living specimans when combined with a Ti:Sapphire laser. The MOM design is unique in providing 3-dimensional objective movement and rotation allowing the speciman to remain stationary. Many highly regarded imaging laboratories around the world use MOM microscopes and we constantly work with our customers to adapt the design for their changing needs.

Starting in 2011, we have begun offering the MOM Computer System with Software (MCS). The MCS is designed to take advantage of the MOM. As a result, when combined with the MCS, the MOM becomes a powerful tool capable of combining electrophysiology with large scale imaging experiments in both two and three dimensions.

How it Works:
The MOM consists of two independent microscopes. The widefield half of the microscope consists of an Olympus verticle illuminator, Sutter Xenon arc lamp and camera mount to provide standard epifluorescence. The two-photon side of the microscope provides the opticle pathway for guiding the excitation laser light from the table up into the scanning galvanometric mirrors and then expanding the beam through the scan lens and directed into the back of the objective. Following two-photon excitation, the emitted photons are directed by a dichroic mirror immediately above the objective into the detection pathway. The main body of the microscope translates on a rail system to allow easy access to the speciman prior to imaging.

The objective translates in X, Y and Z as well as rotates around the X axis. Two moving mirrors allow the microscope to maintain efficient delivery of the excitation light to the back aperture of the objective regardless of movement or orientation. The X, Y and Z movements used are the same as that in our MP-285 micromanipulator so you know the movements are smooth, fine in scale, drift-free and highly reproducible. These movements permit Z-stacks and mosaic images of large regions of tissue to be recorded wihtout the need for a moving stage.

The horizontal light path allows for rotation of the objective away from the standard vertical position. As a result of this rotation, the MOM can easily be converted from an upright to an inverted microscope and the objective positioned from 0 to 180 degrees. This positional freedom permits the imaging of nonhorizontal surfaces and volumes.

Sutter MOM packages include all of the equiptment(less the Ti:Sapphire laser and objective), needed for a complete imaging system.

- Cambridge Technology XY galvanometric scanners with 3 or 6 mm mirrors
- Hamamatsu photomultiplier tubes (PMTs): R6357 multialkali or H10770PA-40 (GaAsP) products.
Sutter is an authorized dealer for Hamamatsu
- Power supplies for PMTs: Either a Sutter PS-2 (dual channel high-voltage power supply for R6357 PMTs) or Sutter PS-2LV (dual channel low-voltage power supply for H1070 (GaAsP) PMTs) can be ordered.
- Hamamatsu C7317 or Sigmann pre-amplifiers
- Data auquistition: National Instruments acquisition boards (NI-6110E)

Applications
- In vivo two-photon imaging
- Patch-slice, fixed-stage microscopy
- Non-horizontal surface microscopy
- Simultaneous retinal stimulation and two photon microscopy<sup>1


1</sup> "Eyecup scope-optical recordings of light stimulus-evoked flourescence signals in the retina", Euler et al, Pflugers Arch, 2008