Andor Dragonfly 500

The Andor Dragonfly 500 is a high-speed confocal microscopy system developed by Oxford Instruments Andor for advanced live-cell imaging applications. It is designed to minimize phototoxicity during delicate cellular observations.

The platform integrates multiple imaging modalities, including spinning disk confocal, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF), and widefield imaging. This versatility allows researchers to switch between techniques rapidly without moving the sample.

The system is manufactured by Andor Technology, a division of Oxford Instruments based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Andor specializes in high-performance scientific cameras and microscopy equipment.

Unlike traditional point-scanning confocals, the Dragonfly 500 uses a multi-point scanning disk to capture images much faster while exposing cells to less laser light. This allows researchers to capture high-resolution 3D volumes of living specimens over extended periods.