Incubator Microscope & Live Cell Imaging - Microscopes and more
Compact incubator microscopes, AI-supported image analysis software and moveable stage for 96- & 384-well plates - for automated live cell imaging directly in the CO₂ incubator. Made in Germany.
Whether standard cell culture monitoring, scratch assay, migration assay or high-throughput screening - the innoME product line Microscopes and more supplies all components for fully automated, label-free imaging without interrupting your cell cultures. All products are harmonised and ready for immediate use.
Our products
Three harmonised products for fully automated live cell imaging - from microscope to analysis software.
Incubator microscope
zenCELL owl
The compact 24-channel incubator microscope for continuous, label-free live cell imaging directly in the CO₂ incubator - with AI analysis, 98 % accuracy.
Analysis software
zenCELL Software
AI-supported image analysis software for automatic confluence measurement, cell counting, scratch evaluation and real-time monitoring - directly on the PC.
Accessories
Moveable Stage
Motorised stage extension for zenCELL owl - enables imaging of 96- and 384-well plates for high-throughput screening applications.
zenCELL owl vs. Sartorius Incucyte - Comparison
Anyone looking for an incubator microscope often compares zenCELL owl with the Sartorius Incucyte. Here are the most important differences at a glance:
| Feature | zenCELL owl (innoME) | Sartorius Incucyte |
|---|---|---|
| Construction method | Directly in the incubator (in-incubator) | Stage-top (outside the incubator) |
| Imaging channels | 24 independent channels simultaneously | 1 camera, sequential |
| Temperature & CO₂ stability | ✔ No interruption - cells remain in the incubator | Cells are removed or stage-top heated |
| AI image analysis | Integrated, up to 98 % accuracy | ✔ Available (Incucyte Software) |
| Price & accessibility | ✔ Significantly cheaper, 2-week trial free of charge | Very high acquisition costs |
| Space requirement | ✔ 18 × 18 × 10.5 cm - fits in any incubator | Stand-alone table-top appliance, large storage space |
| Power supply | USB 3.0 - no power supply unit required | External power supply unit required |
| Origin | ✔ Made in Germany | USA / International |
| High-throughput (384-well) | ✔ Can be retrofitted with Moveable Stage | ✔ Available (higher models) |
| Test position | ✔ Free of charge, 2 weeks, no obligation | Usually not available |
* All information is based on publicly available product information (as of 2026). For individual advice, please contact us at info@innome.de.
Applications
From daily cell control to high-throughput screening - one system for all applications.
Cell culture monitoring
Continuous, non-invasive monitoring of your cell cultures 24/7 - directly in the CO₂ incubator. zenCELL owl automatically records confluence, morphology and cell count in real time. No manual microscopy, no interruption of culture conditions.
Ideal for: HeLa, HEK293, CHO, primary cells, stem cells - in 6-, 12-, 24-well plates.
Scratch Assay / Wound Healing Assay
Fully automatic evaluation of wound closure over time. zenCELL owl combined with the innoME Scratch Maker for reproducible, standardised scratches in 6-well and 24-well plates. The software automatically calculates the wound closure kinetics - without manual time measurements.
No comparable system in this price range - not even Sartorius Incucyte.
Migration assay
Precise quantification of cell migration in real time. Automatic imaging at defined intervals (from 10 minutes) without removal from the incubator. Reproducible, comparable data for pharmacological and biological studies.
Compatible with Transwell systems and standard multiwell plates.
High-throughput screening
With the Moveable Stage, you can expand zenCELL owl for 96- and 384-well plates - ideal for large-scale compound libraries and drug discovery projects. Fully automated image acquisition of all wells in one run.
Significantly more compact and cost-effective than Sartorius Incucyte HD or Zeiss Celldiscoverer - with comparable data quality.
Cell & Gene Therapy (CGT)
Continuous monitoring for regulatory-compliant process documentation in CGT production. Seamless time series for every batch - without manual intervention. AI analysis provides reproducible, auditable quality data.
Ideal for: iPSC cultivation, CAR-T cell processes, viral vector production, MSC expansion.
Cytotoxicity & Compound Assays
Screening of drug candidates for cell toxicity - in parallel in up to 24 wells, label-free and without staining. Real-time confluence curves replace endpoint measurements and provide more information per experiment.
Compatible with all common cell lines and culture formats.
Why innoME?
Directly in the incubator - no interruption of the culture conditions, no temperature stress for your cells
24 channels simultaneously - more parallel experiments, less equipment required than Sartorius Incucyte
AI analysis with up to 98 % accuracy - automatic, without manual evaluation
Free 2-week trial - test zenCELL owl in your laboratory, without obligation
Made in Germany - developed and produced since 2015, global distribution
Scalable - from 24-well standard to 384-well high-throughput with moveable stage
FAQ - Incubator microscope
A Incubator microscope is a compact imaging system that is placed directly in a CO₂ incubator. Unlike standard microscopes, cells never have to be removed from their optimal environment - temperature, CO₂ and sterility remain constant. zenCELL owl offers 24 independent channels and runs fully automatically 24/7.
The biggest difference: zenCELL owl is directly in the incubator (in-incubator), while Sartorius Incucyte is a stage-top system outside of the incubator. zenCELL owl monitors 24 Wells simultaneous, costs significantly less and offers a free 2-week trial. Sartorius Incucyte offers more fluorescence options, but is many times more expensive.
Yes. innoME offers a free 2-week trial with complete software and personalised support. No obligation, no risk. Availability is limited - enquiries at info@innome.de Or +49 89 215 377 00.
zenCELL owl is optimised for 6-, 12- and 24-well plates. With the optional Moveable Stage extend the compatibility to 96 and 384-well plates - Ideal for high-throughput screening applications.
The Moveable Stage is a motorised extension for zenCELL owl that enables the imaging of 96- and 384-well plates. It is suitable for High-throughput compound screening with large substance libraries. Plug & play - no conversion work on the incubator necessary.
All products - Microscopes and more
Direct access to all three products in this category as well as matching innoME consumables:
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