Caliper Introduces Image 4.0 Software

Caliper Life Sciences (Caliper) has introduced Living Image 4.0 software for IVIS in vivo imaging systems. Living Image software drives the more than 800 Caliper IVIS systems currently installed in laboratories worldwide.

The company claims that Living Image 4.0 features advanced spectral unmixing tools to enhance fluorescent sensitivity and automated 3D image acquisition and analysis providing an anatomical view of disease activity and drug efficacy.

Preclinical imaging for translational research is now routinely used in large scale studies for drug discovery and vaccine development. With Living Image 4.0, scientists can easily visualise and track diseases quantitatively, in small living animals through the sensitive detection of fluorescent and bioluminescent reporters and functional markers.

The company said that 3D images generated with Living Image 4.0 can also be co-registered with CT or MRI results to provide enhanced anatomical context for optical molecular signals.

The software’s new design creates an intuitive, seamless workflow for researchers of all skill levels. New features include: wizard based guidance for advanced imaging protocols, improved surface tomography, advanced spectral unmixing tools, new color templates and 3D visualisation tools. All IVIS systems are calibrated to NIST standards to ensure that quantitative results are validated throughout an experiment and from location to location.

Kevin Hrusovsky, president and CEO, Caliper, said: “Caliper’s IVIS systems are widely recognised as the small animal molecular imaging instrument for drug discovery and development. Living Image 4.0 will further enhance IVIS’s value to scientists by improving its ease-of-use, quantitation and reproducibility.”

Living Image 4.0 began shipping with all new IVIS in vivo imaging systems on November 30, 2009. Upgrades to Living Image 4.0 for existing IVIS systems will be available for purchase from January 1, 2010.