Rat-1 Fibroblasts stained with Hoescht 33342, Oregon Green and QAPB
Image courtesy of Dr J.Pediani, University of Glasgow

Image Detection with CCD Cameras

With their high spatial resolution and ease of use, CCD cameras are rapidly becoming essential tools within biomedical science. However, selection of the most appropriate device for a given application requires a basic knowledge of the parameters used to specify CCD chips and how they affect performance.

The most important parameter to define when selecting the camera is the speed at which you require images to be acquired. Once this has been established, the compromise required between sensitivity and resolution can be established. To determine the required sensitivity you must first identify the amplitude of the signal changes you want to distinguish, together with the minimum and maximum signal levels expected. This information can then be used to define the minimum number of photons that must be detected to resolve your signal with different CCD chips. This is a detailed area and the reader is referred to the technical section for more information and an explanation of CCD camera specifications.

Your choice of detection device will be limited to the selection of devices supported by your chosen software, as each package will be optimised for a different range of hardware. We list here a selection of integrating and frame rate CCD cameras which are supported by imaging applications used within the biomedical sciences. As such, they are all suitable for coupling to a research fluorescence microscope via a standard C-mount side port adapter, but have a range of different features and specifications.

Cooled CCD Cameras for high resolution fluorescence microscopy

 

Roper Coolsnap HQ

Hamamatsu Orca-ER

CCD Sensor :
Sony ICX285

Sensor Type :
Interline
Interline

Sensor Size :
8.77mm x 6.6mm
8.67mm x 6.6mm

CCD Pixels :
1392 x 1040
1344 x 1024

Pixel Size :
6.45µm x 6.45µm
6.45µm x 6.45µm

Readout Bits :
12
12

Readout Speed (bits/second) :
10M / 20M
15M

Frame Readout (ms) :
100

Readout Noise (electrons) :

6 at 10MHz
8 at 20MHz
8

Well Size (electrons) :
15,000
18,000

Full Binning :
YES
YES

Max Binned Pixel Size (electrons) :
30,000

On-Chip Intensification :
NO
NO

Peltier Cooling :
-30°C
-20°C

Q.E. (%) :
400nm 45%
500nm 62%
600nm 62%
400nm 50%
500nm 70%
600nm 62%

Dark Current (electrons/pixel/second) :
0.05 (-30°C)
0.1(-20°C)

Dynamic Range :
1:2500
1:2250

Intensified CCD Cameras for maximum sensitivity

 

Roper Cascade

iPentamax

CCD Sensor :
Texas Instruments TC253
EEV CCD37-10

Sensor Type :
Frame Transfer
Frame Transfer

Sensor Size :
4.9mm x 3.7mm
7.7mm x 7.7mm

CCD Pixels :
653 x 492
512 x 512

Pixel Size :
7.4µm x 7.4µm
15µm x 15µm

Readout Bits :
16
12

Readout Speed (bits/second) :
5M / 10M
1M / 5M

Frame Readout (ms) :
39
67

Readout Noise (electrons) :

25 without on-chip gain
1 with on-chip gain
32 at 5MHz
20 at 1MHz

Well Size (electrons) :
27,000
120,000

Full Binning :
Region of Interest Only
Region of Interest Only

Max Binned Pixel Size (electrons) :
N/A
N/A

On-Chip Intensification :
YES
NO

Peltier Cooling :
-35°C
-20°C

Q.E. (%) :
400nm 30%
500nm 48%
600nm 55%
400nm 0%
500nm 16%
600nm 46%

Dark Current (electrons/pixel/second) :
1 (-35°C)
30 (-20°C)

Dynamic Range :
1:1080 without on-chip gain
1:27000 with on-chip gain
1:3750

 

Modular Intensifiers

To improve the sensitivity of the high resolution cameras it is possible to add a modular image intensifier. Two intensifier types are available from Cairn, the standard intensifier and the high resolution intensifier. For further details of image intensification please contact us on tech@cairnweb.com.

Non-cooled integrating CCD cameras

 

Ionoptix Myocam

RedShirtImaging NeuroCCD

Cohu 4910

CCD Sensor :
Phillips FT800N
Marconi CCD39-01

Sensor Type :
Frame Transfer
Frame Transfer
Interline

Sensor Size :
6.4mm x 4.8mm
6.4mm x 4.8mm

CCD Pixels :
754 x 490
80 x 80
752 x 582

Pixel Size :
8.6µm x 8.3µm

Readout Bits :
14

Readout Speed (bits/second) :

Frame Readout :
60 / 120 / 240 Hz
2MHz or 5MHz
  

Readout Noise (electrons) :

  
 

Well Size (electrons) :

  
300,000
  

Full Binning :
NO
NO
NO

Max Binned Pixel Size (electrons) :
n/a
n/a
n/a

On-Chip Intensification :
NO
NO
NO

Peltier Cooling :
NO
NO
NO

Q.E. (%) :
400nm
500nm
600nm
400nm
500nm
600nm
400nm
500nm
600nm

Dark Current (electrons/pixel/second) :
 

Dynamic Range :
 




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