Thorlabs acquires CompuCyte and its Laser Scanning Cytometry (LSC) portfolio

Oct. 9, 2013

Thorlabs acquired CompuCyte Corporation, a developer of Laser Scanning Cytometry (LSC) products for high-content cellular and tissue-based analysis.

Gail Overton

Newton, NJ and Westwood, MA--Photonics products manufacturer Thorlabs acquired CompuCyte Corporation, a developer of Laser Scanning Cytometry (LSC) products for high-content cellular and tissue-based analysis. Founded by Louis Kamentsky, CompuCyte introduced LSC technology to provide an essential imaging complement to traditional flow cytometry techniques. The technology combines the advantages of digital microscopy, image processing, and cytometry for high-content analysis of adherent cells and tissue specimens.

The companies say that the iGeneration trade-marked instruments (iCyte, iCys, and iColor) incorporate proprietary non-confocal laser scanning imaging technology that offers many unique advantages over alternatives, including: (1) true quantitative analysis, with analytical performance unmatched by alternative technologies; (2) multiple light sources/detectors: lasers, photomultipliers and photodiode-detectors; (3) flexible dye combinations: chromatic, fluorescent or both simultaneously; (4) variable-resolution scanning for maximum flexibility, establishing a balance between throughput and image resolution; (5) adherent cellular and tissue specimen analysis in various formats: microscope slides, micro-liter plates, chamber slides, or proprietary carriers.

Jeff Brooker, GM of Thorlabs Imaging Division said, "The acquisition of the CompuCyte product lines is an important step forward for Thorlabs as it works to extend its innovative family of life-science imaging products into the cytometry market. Having spent most of my career in the high content imaging field, I am personally excited to return to the cytometry market with such a strong foundation and a seasoned team. We at Thorlabs look forward to continuing to provide the innovation and support that customers have experienced from CompuCyte."

Elena Holden, CompuCyte former President and CEO, welcomes the transaction, saying, "CompuCyte has created a family of imaging instruments to serve an unsurpassed variety of applications and markets. We are delighted to have found an exceptional partner in Thorlabs. United by a complete dedication to the needs of our customers, we look forward to continuing development of new imaging cytometry products."

As part of the transaction, CompuCyte personnel will join Thorlabs' extensive sales, technical support, and product development organization in Sterling, VA.

SOURCE: Thorlabs; http://www.thorlabs.us/PressReleases.cfm?ReleaseID=74

About the Author

Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)

Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.