New Software to Improve System Control and Image Processing for Temperature Controlled Microscopy Launched

After listening to user feedback, Linkam has created new LINK software with an intelligent user interface that delivers a practical and intuitive system experience to users of their temperature controlled microscopy stages. Convenient and reliable software is of paramount importance to the scientific community and LINK now provides this.

From one central interface, it is possible to control and monitor the different physical parameters for Linkam stages. These include temperature, humidity, shear mode, tensile force and vacuum (depending on stage type and sensors fitted). LINK can be programmed with up to 100 ramps making it easy for even complex experiments to be run. Furthermore, the new five-point calibration ensures accuracy and precision in data collection. With the additional imaging module options, users can also see how their samples change in correlation to a controlled manipulation. LINK supports the Linkam T95 controllers with both USB 2 and RS232 connections.

Varying the environmental conditions of a sample can drastically change its physical properties. Proteins denature and polymers melt with heat; plastics tear when under tensile force and many other materials may release volatiles, oxidise, change colour or change shape. Such visual changes can be analysed quickly and easily with the new imaging and extended measurements modules. LINK can be programmed to take sample pictures at regular, specified intervals and, with a simple calibration set up, area, distance and angles can all be measured and annotated directly onto the images.

Other optional, modules include TASC and 21CFR11. TASC (Thermal Analysis by Structural Characterisation) is a new image analysis technique developed in partnership with Professor Mike Reading of Cyversa. TASC tracks changes in surface structure. The technique is highly sensitive to glass and melt transitions and, unlike traditional DSC, it is possible to analyse different parts of the same sample to identify inhomogeneities. TASC can be combined with any Linkam thermal stage, in effect creating a modular thermal analysis system.

21CFR11 is the part of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations on electronic records and electronic signatures (ERES). Adding the 21CFR11 Module to LINK adds compliance through supporting access control, user level management and audit trails of the data and guaranteeing the reliability of electronic records.