Frequently Asked Questions
Technical . Biological . zencell
Technical FAQs
1. What is zenCELL owl?
zenCELL owl is a 24-channel microscope for the incubator which automates remote monitoring of cell cultures. The compact and lightweight device ensures space-saving and uncomplicated use in the incubator. Data capturing, display and analysis is performed 24/7 in real time. Cell cultures can be comfortably monitored from your PC.
2. On what kind of microscope setup is zenCELL owl based on?
zenCELL owl is based on inverted transmitted light microscopy.
3. Can I perform fluorescence imaging with zenCELL owl?
Because of technical limitations like the small size of the zenCELL owl in combination with 24 integrated cameras it is not yet possible to provide fluorescence imaging.
4. What are the system requirements for the PC?
System requirements depend on the individually selected recording interval and algorithms. zenCELl owl software calculates the minimal possible recording interval at beginning of measurement. For a 10 min interval with all algorithms selected a PC with Windows® 8 or 10, 32/64 Bit, 2.5 GHz, 4 cores, 8 GB RAM is recommended. Make sure that no other programs are running during the zenCELL owl measurement. Check the power saving settings of your PC (see question no. 28).
5. What is the individual camera‘s field of view?
Field of view is 1,2mm x 0,9mm for each of the 24 cameras.
6. Is it possible to enlarge the field of view?
Right now, field of view is limited on 1,2mm x 0,9mm for each of the 24 cameras. But we are working on technical optimizations for enlarging the field of view.
7. What is the maximum magnification?
Magnification is 10x with additional digital zoom.
8. What is the minimal and maximal recording interval?
zenCELl owl software calculates the minimal possible recording interval at beginning of measurement. It is limited on your PC’s performance and the number of wells and algorithms selected for the experiment. The maximal adjustable recording interval is 24 hours.
Recommended system requirements for a 10 min interval with all algorithms selected are a PC with Windows® 8 or 10, 32/64 Bit, 2.5 GHz, 4 cores, 8 GB RAM.
Make sure that there no other programs are running while zenCELL owl measurement. Check the power saving settings of your PC (see question no. 31).
9. What is the maximum focus range?
The maximum focus range is 280 μm, adjustable in 1050 steps.
10. Does zenCELL owl use wifi?
zenCELL owl uses a ribbon cable for data transfer and power supply. A suitable USB3 cable is provided with each zenCELL owl. Via remote access you can monitor your cell cultures from anywhere outside the lab.
11. Can the software perform statistical analyses?
The software includes options for monitoring of cell count (adherent cells, detached cells and total cell number), cell coverage and calculation of standard deviation.
12. Can zenCELL owl be used as a cell counter?
zenCELL owl software delivers information about relative changes in the number of cells for each well over time. But there is no possibility to differentiate between vital and dead cells which is necessary for correct cell counting. Therefore it is not recommended to use zenCELL owl as a cell counter.
Biological FAQs
13. What kind of cells can be monitored?
All kinds of adherent cells can be monitored. There are limitations in cell type for the use of algorithms (e.g. cell count, cell coverage). See question no 14).
14. For which cells are the algorithms optimized?
The default software algorithms are optimized for L929 mouse fibroblast cell lines. For other cell lines it is necessary to customize the algorithms by machine learning. Please contact us to adapt zenCELL owl algorithms to your individual cell culture requirements: info@zencellowl.com
15. Can I perform fluorescence imaging with zenCELL owl?
Because of technical limitations like the small size of the zenCELL owl in combination with 24 integrated cameras it is not yet possible to provide fluorescence imaging.
16. Can spheroids be monitored?
Spheroids can be monitored under certain conditions, i.e. size and mobility have to be taken into consideration. Please contact our support at info@zencellowl.com.
17. Can I perform Scratch Assays?
It is possible to perform 24 Scratch Assays in parallel. We provide a template for a better positioning of manual scratches. Please contact our support at info@zencellowl.com.
18. What kind of cell culture vessels can be used?
zenCELL owl is compatible with standard culture vessels. For multiwell plates (6-well or 24-well plates) use the zenCELL owl’s adjustable universal adapter frame. T-flasks (T25 or T75) can be observed with a suitable adapter.
Keep in mind that the 24 fields of views are determined by the 24 permanently positioned cameras of the zenCELL owl and do not show the entire surface of the vessel.
Individual shaped cell culture vessels also can be used, please contact our support: info@zencellowl.com.
19. What types of multiwell plates can be used?
zenCELL owl is optimized for the use of 24-well plates but it is possible to use 6-well plates. The 24 cameras of the zenCELL owl are in fixed positions and correspond to the wells of 24-well plates.
20. Can coated plates be used for measurement?
Coated plates can be used when the coating is appropriate for light microscopy.
How to use zenCELL owl
21. How to use zenCELL owl in an incubator?
zenCELL owl is designed for temperatures from 20 °C up to 45 °C and a relative humidity of 20% to 95%.
Make sure that the zenCELL owl is placed in the incubator at least 2 hours before startup.
This serves to compensate for the temperature difference to ensure stable measurements.
22. How to Quickstart Microscopy?
zenCELL owl can be used like a conventional microscope to have a short look at the cells without saving any information (e.g. project setting, pictures or measurement results). For this application use the Menu “Live View”.
Main Menu > Views > Live View (see User Manual page 20)
23. How to start a long-term Project with automated data recording?
In order to perform long-term Cell Culture Monitoring or an experiment with automated data recording it is necessary to define distinct Project Settings (e.g. project path). This can be done via using “Project Wizard” to create a new project (see User Manual page 15) or adjusting the “Project Settings” (see User Manual page 17).
Main menu > File > New Project or Main menu > Settings > Project Settings
Technical Problems
24. The zenCELL owl lights up red. What does that mean?
- There is a problem with the firmware. Please contact info@zencellowl.com.
25. Why does the zenCELL owl not work?
- Check the USB port. The zenCELL owl can only be used on USB 3.0 ports or higher.
- Use only the supplied USB-C cable.
- Make sure to use the newest software version suitable for your zenCELl owl (check for updates)
26. The software does not recognise the zenCELL owl. What shall I do?
- make sure to use USB 3.0
- make sure to use newest suitable software version
- check whether owl is found under DEVICE MANAGER > Universal Serial Bus controllers, if owls are shown here but not in the software go into the tab VIEW in the DEVICE MANAGER Window, deinstall all shown owl devices > restart windows > zenCELL software should recognise your plugged in owl again
27. Why does the image capture crash?
- Check if the system settings of your computer meet the minimum requirements.
- Use only the supplied components, such as USB-C cable.
- The zenCELL owl is not compatible with a USB 2 port.
28. Why is my long-term project canceled after a while?
- The computer must not be shut down during a long-term project.
- The computer enters sleep mode when it is no longer used. As a result, the zenCELL owl is no longer supplied with power and consequently the image acquisition is stopped. To resolve this issue, edit the power saving settings. Under Control Panel> All Control Panel> Power Options> Edit Power Plan Settings, set the Scheduled Power Saver to Never.
- Make sure the computer can not install updates during a project. To do so, go to Settings> Update and Security> Windows Update> Advanced Options> Suspend Updates to On.
29. Why is my long-term project aborted after a while, even though the computer can not enter sleep mode?
Turn off the computer’s automatic update feature. Windows installs updates at certain times, restarting the computer. This closes the zenCELL owl user program and stops the image acquisition. To rule out this issue, keep your computer up to date and install any available updates before starting a long-term test. For safety reasons, switch off the automatic update function. To do so, go to Settings> Update and Security> Windows Update> Advanced Options> Suspend Updates to On.
30. Why is my PC slower than usual when using the zenCELL owl?
- Make sure your notebook is plugged in and configured to “High Performance”. To do this, in the “Windows Mobility Center” under “Battery status” set to “maximum performance”.
- Check if the system settings of your computer meet the minimum requirements. Upgrading your main memory contributes significantly to the improvement of performance.
- Closing unneeded programs and browsers improves performance.
31. Why is the zenCELL owl program reacting slowly?
- Make sure your notebook is plugged in and configured to “High Performance”. To do this, in the “Windows Mobility Center” under “Battery status” set to “maximum performance”.
- Check if the system settings of your computer meet the minimum requirements. Upgrading your main memory contributes significantly to the improvement of performance.
- Closing unneeded programs and browsers improves performance.
32. Why are images or measurements missing in my project folder?
Check if the system settings of your computer meet the minimum requirements. If this is not the case, too little computing power can lead to overlapping of the recording intervals and thus to the loss of data.
33. Why is the Software’s font displayed so small or why are graphs not shown completely?
Check your resolution settings in Settings> System> Display> Scaling and Arrangement.
34. Why is measurement data missing on the degree of coverage in the "coverage.csv" file?
The measurement file “coverage.csv” may not be opened while a project is running. This makes the file read-only so it can not be overwritten by the zenCELL software.
35. Why are the pictures out of focus?
- Make sure to run the autofocus function before the start of measurement. You also can adjust each well’s focus manually.
- Make sure to correctly use the universal adapter frame for your multi-well plate to keep the correct distance to the camera units. For T-flasks make sure to use the correct adapter frame.
36. Why do the pictures get blurred over the course of measurement?
- Preincubate the zenCELL owl in the incubator at least 2 hours before startup. This serves to compensate for the temperature difference to ensure a stable work environment.
- Make sure that there is no condensation inside the cell culture vessel’s lid.
37. Why does Live View stop on its own?
This a safety feature preventing the risk of overheating the cells during continuous operation. Please confirm the pop-up menu to avoid automatic closing of Live View after 15 seconds.
38. Cell counting seems not to be correct. Why?
- The software algorithms are optimized for L929 mouse fibroblasts cell lines so far.
- Cell counting is correct until a cell confluence of 100% is reached.
- Drug-treated cells can not be counted correctly if drugs have an influence on cell morphology.
39. Why are there shadows on the cell images?
Make sure that there is no condensation on the inside of your cell culture vessel’s lid. Condensation often results from temperature changes. To avoid condensation keep your cell culture vessel and zenCELL owl device at stable temperatures or preincubate both in the incubator for two hours before beginning measurement.
The following picture shows how condensation can tarnish your pictures
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