Bioimaging Systems

Routine Assays

Users wanting to run preconfigured applications can easily do so with the Assay Launch dialog. Whether provided by BD or developed by the laboratory, new applications can be added to the launch dialog for easy access at any time.

The Assay Launch dialog provides the ability to:

1. Select a preconfigured application.
2. Select the wells of the plate to be analyzed.
3. Run the assay.

There is also a convenient tool for making any necessary edits to the application.

Application Wizards

These preconfigured wizards provide guided access to a number of key settings of the instrument. The user simply steps through the dialog boxes, making any necessary adjustments, reviews the summary tab, and launches the application.

Some examples of application wizards are:

• RGB
• Nuclear Translocation
• Neurite Outgrowth

For more advanced analysis, additional tools are available to step the user through customized analysis algorithms. The user simply selects the experiment data, the analysis type, and adjusts some basic settings. Then, the user can experiment with a variety of settings before selecting those to apply. Once defined, these settings can be saved for consistent application across any number of plates.

Advanced Assay Development

The power and flexibility of BD Pathway™ software allow advanced users to develop novel applications unique to their experimental needs. An intuitive, step-wise macro builder allow the user to interact with every setting of the instrument and make precise adjustments to the system. The user can select from hundreds of defined “actions” to assemble into a macro (instruction set) for the instrument. The step-wise macro builder provides unprecedented flexibility in image acquisition.

BD Pathway™ software includes a comprehensive set of advanced features for image acquisition, image visualization, and live cell dynamic imaging (BD Pathway 855 instrument) to meet your ongoing research needs.

Confocal Z stack acquisition

The BD Pathway system provides a selectable spinning disk confocal, which allows users to take advantage of both widefield and confocal imaging methods. Based on experimental conditions and imaging requirements, the confocal capability provides the flexibility to remove out-of-focus haze for improved image quality and analysis. A plate-wide collapsed Z stack provides the highest quality image while retaining all the fluorescence information throughout the depth of the specimen.

3D visualization

The 3D volume rendering tool is built in and allows image Z stacks to be viewed from any angle. The image views can also be rendered to develop a 3D rotational projection and video sequence.

 

Live cell dynamics

The BD Pathway 855 system supports a variety of live cell imaging applications such as calcium kinetics using single or dual wavelength dyes. With the included liquid handling capability, compound additions can be coordinated with imaging to ensure analysis of events in realtime.

 

Image montage (tiling without software stitching)

The BD Pathway system offers advanced hardware and software capabilities for building the image montage (tiles). Experiments that require multiple locations, a larger cell population, or a single expanded field of view image can easily be set up through a montage capture dialog. For example, neuron length may be measured over a number of fields of view with a high degree of precision and accuracy.

Data analysis and visualization

BD Pathway software includes a wide range of data analysis and visualization tools for high-content image data. Endpoint and kinetic data can be analyzed using BD Pathway software. Examples of data analysis and visualization tools include:

Bar charts Scatter plots Dose-response curves

Heatmaps Cell-by-cell or well-by-well analysis

Cell scoring (percentage of cells responding) Z-scores

 
 
 

BD Pathway Software Features and Benefits

Feature	Benefits	BD Pathway 435	BD Pathway 855
Comprehensive software suite	From image acquisition and analysis to data analysis and visualization, BD Pathway™ software provides a complete solution.	•	•
High-content analysis software included	Most high-content applications can be run without the need to purchase applications-specific software.	•	•
Powerful analysis capabilities	Flexible software provides a variety of analysis tools, enabling a broader range of applications.	•	•
Flexible export of images and data	Support for standard unencrypted 16-bit TIF and BMP file formats, plus export of delimited text files, allows you to migrate your data to third-party software provider solutions.	•	•
Advanced kinetic control	Run a number of dynamic live-cell applications including calcium flux and other time-lapse imaging experiments.		•

New BD AttoVision™ Software v1.6

Image Analysis

Feature	Benefit	BD Pathway 435	BD Pathway 855
New image preprocessing filters for segmentation (rolling ball background correction, morphological and convolution filters)	Enhanced ability to extract or identify cells or cellular regions of interest for improved image analysis.	•	•
New object splitting using intensity-based watershed algorithm	Faster and more accurate object splitting for small spots or objects.	•	•
New band segmentation outputs, including erosion of the nuclear region	Added support for plasma membrane translocation and additional subcellular region analysis. Exclusion regions may be created around the perinuclear region for improved signal/noise in other nucleus/cytoplasm translocation assays.	•	•
New measurement features (morphometric, intensity and positional)	Expands the ability to analyze and characterize cellular and subcellular regions or phenotypes.	•	•
Count objects within objects “Sub Object”	Support for new types of analysis such as DNA damage, colocalization, and spot counting.	•	•
Flow Cytometry Standard (FCS) export	Export image analysis data for use by third-party software programs.	•	•
Reactivate experiment settings	Easily apply settings from one experiment to another for better consistency and faster experimental setup.	•	•
Enhanced screen management	New dialog docking capability provides a more customizable, user-friendly workspace. Easier and more intuitive way to acquire and view images and data.	•	•
Screen layout toolbar	Each user may customize and save personal dialog and toolbar layout settings, specific to meet their experiment or workflow needs.	•	•
Improved plate map and image navigation	Improved graphics for easier viewing and navigation of the plate map. Link all open images together to zoom out, zoom in, or pan them altogether at the same time. Saves time and effort when reviewing images.	•	•
System user instructions available through the Help menu	Provides a way to quickly locate specific instructions to perform tasks using the BD Pathway instrument or BD AttoVision software.	•	•