Navitar Life Sciences Inc., an affiliated entity of optics manufacturer Navitar Inc., has agreed to acquire the assets of Modulation Optics, including its Hoffman Modulation Contrast (HMC) imaging technology.

Modulation Optics, located in Glen Cove, N.Y., makes Hoffman Modulation Contrast microscope components and systems for use in live-cell imaging applications such as stem cell imaging, cancer studies, and embryo and sperm monitoring during in vitro fertilization procedures. Originally developed by Robert Hoffman, the technology is widely used to view colorless and transparent biological specimens.

“HMC technology has enabled an enormous expansion in live cell imaging capabilities,” said Julian Goldstein, co-president of Navitar. “With this technology, it is now possible to image active events in living cells with clear, high-resolution microscopic images and enhanced sharpness and definition. It can increase contrast in both stained and unstained specimens, providing real insights into cell function.”

HMC can be applied to most objective lenses, including ones from Olympus, Nikon, Zeiss and Leica. Modulation Optics offers HMC accessories including full 360° rotating modulators with a convenient “stop” mechanism, condensers, turrets and modules specifically matched with the individual HMC objectives.

“This acquisition enables Navitar to expand our product offering beyond our mainstay ZFL Fluorescence Imaging optical systems,” said the company’s other co-president, Jeremy Goldstein. “In addition, HMC will now be able to be used in combination with our other illumination techniques, like DIC [differential interference contrast], dark field, bright field and fluorescence to achieve spectacular images for our customers.”

For more information, visit: www.navitar.com