The P-737 is available with a number of analog and digital piezo controllers. (Photo: PI )

November 7, 2007 — PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P., inventor of high-speed Piezo-Z objective steppers, has introduced the new P-737 PIFOC Piezo-Z Stage, which it says is the highest performance nanopositioning Z control system on the market.

The P-737 specimen Z-stage is part of PI’s large family of products for microscope automation. Designed for biotech research microscopes using deconvolution and 3D imaging techniques, the P-737 PIFOC features up to 250 µm travel, millisecond responsiveness, and nanometer-precise motion under closed-loop control.

While PI says that no sample stage can beat the speed of the fastest PIFOC objective positioners (due to its stiff, compact design), the P-737 allows for millisecond sample settling, which enables convenient Z-stack imaging with multiple objectives and very high throughput. The P-737 fully exploits the high throughput of the latest digital imaging systems, according to PI, and thus is able to achieve 10 to 50 times faster response than conventional stepper motor focus drives.

The P-737 is available with a number of analog and highly sophisticated digital piezo controllers and can be controlled through digital interfaces as well as by fast analog signals through a high-speed 0-10V input. The system promises full compatibility with all leading imaging acquisition packages, and it comes with a comprehensive set of LabView drivers is included.

Application examples include 3D imaging, Z-stack acquisition, autofocusing, scanning, and alignment tasks in microscopy and biotechnology.