3D Biology Microscopy

Learn how ECHO systems help study 3D biology and produce stunning images.

ECHO Applications

3D Biology with Microscopy

3D cell models including spheroids, tumoroids, organoids, and thick tissue constructs have transformed biological research, offering far more physiologically relevant data than flat monolayers. But imaging them requires capabilities that most conventional microscopes weren’t designed to handle.

We’ve engineered ECHO Confocal and Cellcyte 1 specifically to meet the demands of 3D biology: with fast Z-stack acquisition, minimal phototoxicity, intelligent autofocus for large heterogeneous samples, and true incubator integration so your cultures are never disturbed. From endpoint high-resolution confocal imaging with ECHO Spinning Disk Confocal to continuous 24/7 live-cell monitoring with the Cellcyte 1, ECHO covers the full 3D biology workflow.

3D Biology is unnecessarily difficult

Researchers shouldn’t spend their time fighting their equipment. Traditional microscopes create friction at every step of a 3D Biology workflow. Here’s how ECHO changes that.

Take a Test Drive
ⓧ Point-Scanning speed = Slow Z-Stack acquisition

Point-scanning confocals spend hours on a single thick organoid stack. Samples drift, bleach, or die before acquisition completes.

ⓧ Phototoxicity destroying samples

Concentrated laser power on a single point causes rapid photobleaching, damaging your samples and reducing repeatability.

ⓧ Spheroids out of focus across wells

Without smart calibration, multiwell plate spheroid imaging requires tedious manual refocusing well by well.

ⓧ Incubator overheating & plate disruption

Moving plates to an external scope disturbs cultures and creates handling artifacts. Most incubators overheat and disrupt temperature control.

✓ Spinning disk speed = 1000× faster Z-stacks

ECHO Confocal's spinning disk illuminates thousands of pinholes at once Complete organoid stacks in minutes, not hours.

✓ High sensitivity, minimal photodamage

Distributed illumination with sensitive cameras means less power per point, preserving cell viability across repeated imaging sessions.

✓ ~1-min multiwell plate auto-calibration

ECHO's intelligent calibration finds the center of every spheroid or organoid across your entire plate in under one minute.

✓ True incubator integration, no overheating

Cellcyte 1 lives inside your incubator. With stationary plates and open airflow design, cultures are never disturbed, temperature stays stable.

Z-Stack with Unmatched Precision and Speed

Z-stacking is essential for 3D Biology, allowing you to capture images at different focal planes and visualize your sample in three dimensions.

However, traditional confocal systems often make Z-stacking a slow process, consuming valuable time. With ECHO Confocal, we’ve overcome this limitation by dramatically speeding up the Z-stacking process.

In the video, our system captures a 25μm tissue section, acquiring 111 images across 3 channels in less than 5 seconds.
Experience the efficiency and precision of ECHO Confocal’s rapid Z-stacking for your research needs.

ECHO Confocal: Built for Speed, Sensitivity, and 3D Depth

ECHO Confocal’s spinning disk delivers exceptional imaging performance for 3D biology. Capture full organoid Z-stacks with high sensitivity and minimal phototoxicity. Select your pinhole spacing for thin or thick samples, combine Z-stacks with motorized tiling for large-FOV views of entire organoids, and let the automated plate calibration center every spheroid in every well.

Cellcyte 1: 24/7 Spheroid Monitoring Inside Your Incubator

Cellcyte 1 sits inside your CO₂ incubator, enabling you to image your spheroids and organoids continuously without ever moving the plate. Its open system design ensures proper airflow and easy decontamination. The low-heat LED system keeps your incubator temperature perfectly stable, even during overnight and weekend runs.

No Overheating

Low-heat design keeps incubator temperature stable during continuous imaging

Open System

Airflow-friendly and easy to decontaminate — no biosafety compromises

Stationary Plates

Cultures are never disturbed meaning zero handling artifacts across days-long experiments

Spheroid Autofocus

Precision algorithm engineered for large 3D samples

The dedicated spheroid software module features a precision autofocus algorithm engineered specifically for large 3D samples. This outperforms the generic Z-detect built for flat cell. Track growth kinetics, morphology changes, and drug response across entire multiwell plates at high throughput, automatically.

Testimonials

See why customers love ECHO for 3D Biology applications!



Our Customers Include

Award-winning

WINNER
  • Red Dot Design Award
  • Industrial and Life Science Design
  • Medical/Scientific Machinery
WINNER
  • VWR Suppliers Award
  • Best New Supplier Award (2018)
  • Best Supplier Award (2019)
  • Best New Supplier Award EU (2020)

ECHO's microscopes, perfect for your 3D Biology needs

ECHO SDC

High-Resolution, High-Speed Spinning Disk Confocal Imaging.

Our most advanced system for 3D biology. This system provides you with rapid z-stacking abilities due to it's spinning disk and has one of the smallest footprints on the market.

Cellcyte 1

Automated High-Throughput Imager and Analyzer.

Perfect for longer terms experiments from within the incubator. Fits up to 6 plates with an open design for easy access. Spheroid Module available.

Have a Question?

Our award-winning service team is available and can offer on-site, phone, or video support. Please contact or chat us so we can help.

Yes, we provide both virtual and in-person training for our customers. Additionally, every microscope is preloaded with our interactive iBooks manual. This is a great training tool for new lab members or as an easy refresher for existing users.

We have microscopy specialists globally available for technical questions, product demonstrations, and support. Please contact or chat us so we can help.

Yes, we offer both virtual and onsite product demonstrations of our microscopes. We follow CDC guidelines for masking and social distancing during our in-person demos. Please schedule a demo to schedule a demo for your lab.

Upright microscopes are only capable of viewing glass slides. Inverted microscopes are optimized to view live and fixed samples in well plates, dishes, and flasks. Our microscopes’ ability to easily convert from an upright to an inverted means that your microscope can be optimized for each sample.

Our microscopes are optimized to view samples and cells prepared on slides, well plates, petri dishes, flasks, and hemocytometers.

We work with Chroma Technologies and offer all the standard filters sets from UV to Cy7. We can also provide custom filter sets to fit your specific applications. Please contact or chat us.

We offer a 1-year warranty. We also offer extended warranty packages.

Software updates are free and easily installed through the App Store.

Yes, we work with and can recommend several finance companies to help you structure a lease option that works best for your timing and budget. We are also happy to work with your finance company as well. Please contact or chat us.

Yes, please contact or chat us us so we may send you a list of publications in your field of research.

We believe pricing should be transparent. Try our quote builder to build and price your own system.

Please contact or chat us.

We offer a full solution ideal for keeping your sample healthy over a long period of time. Specifically we control temperature, CO2, humidity, and can accommodate hypoxia conditions.

Yes you can easily take the incubation box off the microscope. The entire box is one piece and slides out from the front.

Yes, our incubator is box style which keeps all the optical components in the same thermal conditions and shields the system from the outside environment. We also offer autofocus which will find the focus of your samples for your desired channel and hold that over time.

Our incubation is offered on the Revolution microscope.

Yes, you can easily add full incubation to your Revolution microscope after it is installed.

Want to see our microscopes in action? Schedule an in-person demo for your samples or a quick 10-minute virtual demo.