Massachusetts-based scientific instruments manufacturer Bruker Corporation (BRKR) recently launched its first integrated scanning probe microscopy (SPM) infrared system titled Inspire. The product delivers high-resolution nanoscale chemical and materials property mapping by leveraging indigenous technology. However, the news failed to exude investor confidence as share prices remained relatively flat to eventually close at $23.47 on Friday.
The Inspire System
Bruker's Inspire is a self-optimizing pioneering scanning system that delivers 10-nanometer spatial resolution in chemical and materials property mapping combined with radical productivity advances and high-quality Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) performance. This system incorporates AFM into the chemical functional area by providing infrared absorption and reflection imaging down to a spatial resolution of 10 nanometers. This is done using an integrated infrared scattering technology – scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM).
Inspire's integrated package contains, in a compact form, all optics, detectors and configurable sources, along with all AFM hardware and software necessary for atomic resolution imaging. Bruker's PeakForce Tapping technology allows researchers to image fragile samples with no decrease in image resolution, by applying a precisely controlled force response curve at every pixel.
This new and unique Inspire scanning system incorporates Bruker's new PeakForce IR mode, which overcomes the limitations of contact and exceeds the performance of TappingMode. PeakForce IR comprises ScanAsyst self-optimization and PeakForce QNM to provide instantly correlated nanomechanical data.
Strategic Benefits
The Inspire scanning system has the ability to gain nanoscale infrared absorption and reflection maps at regular AFM imaging speeds, without the limitations of indirect mechanical approaches or added complexity for the user. This system can capture images of molecular monolayers, including samples that are not responsive to standard atomic force microscopy techniques.
The Inspire imaging system, backed by the PeakForce IR technology, finds use in a variety of applications like the characterization of microphases and their interfaces in polymer blends, chemical heterogeneity in complex materials and thin films and plasmons in the two-dimensional electron gas of graphene.
The Inspire system, with PeakForce IR technology, is so designed as to combat the shortcomings of traditional near-field optical and photothermal techniques, through infrared imaging. At present, Inspire provides instant access to the highest resolution chemical, plasmonics, nanomechanical, and electrical characterization for new scientific research and nano-analytical frontiers. Per management at Bruker, the launch of the Inspire integrated solution has opened up fresh avenues for a more widespread adoption of AFM.
Zacks Rank
Currently, Bruker holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some other notable medical stocks that warrant a look are Amsurg Corp. (AMSG), BioGen Idec Inc. (BIIB) and Curis, Inc. (CRIS). All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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