The Movable Objective Microscope (MOM) is designed to be an ultra-stable, versatile platform for electrophysiology experiments. The MOM is a new alternative to the popular technique employing a fixed-state, upright microscope on a translating X-Y table. The advantage of the MOM is that only the microscope objective is moving in 3 dimensions. The maⁱn frame of the microscope, including the light source and camera mount, is firmly bolted to the tabletop via a rock solid aluminum extrusion.

Additionally, the microscope body is very compact, allowing easy access for multiple manipulators. The fixed stage is based on one of our Sutter MT 75 gantry columns that have already proven themselves as solid supports for manipulators and as fixed stages in our own microscope-translator system, the MT 1000. Furthermore, because there is no microscope frame below the objective, it is easy to use this microscope on in vivo preparations where an animal is immobilized on a special stage or stereotaxic frame.  

Finally, the microscope is easily convertible from an upright to an inverted microscope. This would allow for fixed­stage electrophysiology experiments on cells in culture. Current designs require a massive translator and fixed stage in combination with a commercial inverted scope.