Spectral Instruments Imaging

What Spectral Instruments Imaging does

Spectral Instruments Imaging (SII), founded in 2011 in Tucson, Arizona, designs and manufactures preclinical in vivo optical imaging systems used by life sciences researchers to visualize disease progression in small animal models. The company was acquired by Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR) in February 2024 and now operates as part of Bruker Preclinical Imaging while retaining the Spectral brand. The product portfolio consists of three tiers of imaging instruments — the Lago X (floor-standing, up to 10 mice simultaneously, 14 LED excitation wavelengths, 20 emission filters, -90°C cooled CCD, 50 kV X-ray), the Lago (floor-standing, 5 mice), the Ami HTX and Ami HT (benchtop, 5 mice), and the Kino (benchtop, 3 mice, entry-level) — all unified by the free Aura acquisition and analysis software platform available for Mac and PC. Core proprietary technology includes patented LED fluorescence illumination delivering 100x more light on target versus traditional white-light systems, factory NIST-traceable absolute calibration for cross-platform data comparability, and air-cooled solid-state -90°C camera cooling. Three US patents protect the imaging cabinet, excitation light source assembly, and visible light/X-ray imaging methods.

The company sells hardware systems with quote-based, undisclosed pricing on a one-time/perpetual license basis, with revenue derived primarily from system sales plus accessories (DecaFlow/PentaFlow animal management, anesthesia systems from Somni Scientific and VetEquip, isolation chambers), service contracts, and spare parts. Software is freemium (free for both system owners and external analysts), making revenue effectively tied to instrument placement. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting imaging cores, biopharma companies, academic institutions, and CROs, with quote requests, remote demos hosted by Applications Scientists, on-site demonstrations, and active presence at major preclinical conferences (AACR, EMIM, WMIC, AALAS, ABRF, Preclinical Imaging Consortium). Customer logos span Pfizer, Genentech, Sana Biotechnology, and Novasenta on the commercial side, and MD Anderson, Stanford, Northwestern, City of Hope, Imperial College London, Purdue, and other top-tier academic and cancer research centers on the institutional side. The company is headquartered and manufactures at 420 North Bonita Ave, Tucson, AZ, with all systems shipped factory-direct within 48 hours of order processing. As a Bruker subsidiary, SII now benefits from cross-sell into Bruker/Molecubes μCT, PET, and SPECT installed bases via universal-bed multimodal coregistration.

Name

Spectral Instruments Imaging

Legal name

Spectral Instruments Imaging LLC

Website

https://spectralinvivo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spectral Instruments Imaging designs and manufactures preclinical in vivo optical imaging systems (Lago X, Lago, Ami HTX, Ami HT, Kino) for bioluminescence, fluorescence, and X-ray small animal research, serving biopharma companies, academic institutions, and CROs. Now part of Bruker Preclinical Imaging following the February 2024 acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preclinical In Vivo Optical Imaging Systems

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging (SPECT/PET) (HLAHABAE), Imaging/Lab Integration & Results Management (PACS, LIS Connectivity, Reporting) (HLAMAGAK)

Keywords

• Preclinical optical imaging
• Bioluminescence imaging systems
• Fluorescence imaging instruments
• Small animal imaging
• In vivo imaging software

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Imaging Systems (Hardware): Sale of in vivo optical imaging systems including Lago X, Lago, Ami HTX, Ami HT, and Kino. Systems are available to ship from inventory within 48 hours of order processing. Field upgradable options for X-ray, access ports, and 3D imaging capabilities.
2. Accessories and Consumables: Sale of animal management systems (DecaFlow, PentaFlow), anesthesia systems, manifolds, nose cones, dividers, isolation chambers, and other accessories for imaging workflows.
3. Software (Free Analysis with Paid Acquisition): Aura acquisition and analysis software is free for all users on both Mac and PC platforms. Software is bundled with system purchase and is also available for download for data analysis purposes. Revenue derived from system sales rather than software licensing.
4. Service and Support: Preventive maintenance visits typically performed annually by certified service engineers. Technical support, applications support, and spare parts service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Spectral Instruments Imaging designs and manufactures in vivo optical preclinical imaging systems for bioluminescence (BLI), fluorescence (FLI), and X-ray small animal research, including the Lago X, Lago, Ami HTX, Ami HT, and Kino systems. All systems are unified by the free Aura acquisition and analysis software platform and sold factory-direct with quote-based pricing, supported by accessories and on-site service contracts.

Product overview

Spectral Instruments Imaging is a Tucson, Arizona-based company (now part of Bruker Preclinical Imaging) that designs and manufactures highly sensitive in vivo optical imaging systems for preclinical bioluminescence, fluorescence, and X-ray small animal imaging. The product portfolio consists of three tiers of imaging instruments — the Lago X (floor-standing, 10-mouse, highest throughput), Lago (floor-standing, 5-mouse), Ami HTX/Ami HT (benchtop, 5-mouse), and Kino (benchtop, 3-mouse, entry-level) — all unified by the free Aura Software platform for acquisition and analysis. Aura enables cross-instrument data compatibility, Living Image file import, automated kinetic acquisition (Aura 4.5 Kinetics Mode), and quantitative output via absolute NIST-traceable calibration. Accessory products include the DecaFlow and PentaFlow animal management systems, isolation chamber, and calibration device. The company holds three US patents covering imaging system cabinet design, excitation light source assembly, and combined optical/X-ray imaging methods. All products are intended for research use only.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lago X Floor-standing in vivo optical imaging system with 10-mouse capacity, 25x25 cm field of view, 14 LED excitation wavelengths, 20 emission filters, patented LED fluorescence illumination, -90°C absolutely cooled CCD camera, 50 kV X-ray, absolute NIST-traceable calibration, and field-upgradeable Quantitative 3D Optical Imaging and optical μCT/PET/SPECT coregistration. Minimum Detectable Radiance of 45 photons/sec/cm²/sr. Targeted at high-throughput core facilities, biopharma, and CROs.
• Lago Floor-standing in vivo optical imaging system with 5-mouse capacity, patented LED illumination, -90°C CCD cooling, absolute NIST-traceable calibration, and field-upgradeable X-ray, access ports, and Quantitative 3D Optical Imaging. Targeted at departments, CROs, and demanding core labs.
• Ami HTX Benchtop in vivo imaging system with 5-mouse capacity, 25x17 cm field of view, 10 LED excitation wavelengths, 10 emission filters, -90°C cooled camera, and 40 kV X-ray. Targeted at small startups and individual labs requiring high sensitivity with smaller footprint. Field upgradable for X-ray.
• Ami HT Benchtop in vivo optical imaging system with 5-mouse capacity, 10 LED excitation wavelengths, 10 emission filters, and enhanced sensitivity and flexibility over the Kino model. Field upgradable to include X-ray and access ports. Targeted at labs requiring greater multiplexing capability than Kino at lower cost than Lago.
• Kino Personal benchtop molecular imager with 3-mouse capacity, 13x13 cm field of view, 10 LED excitation wavelengths, and 5 emission filters. Designed for budget-conscious small groups and individual researchers requiring standard BLI and basic FLI capabilities in a compact entry-level form factor.
• Aura Software Unified acquisition and analysis software for all Spectral Instruments Imaging systems. Free download for Mac and PC. Features Easy Mode (3-click acquisition), Smart AutoExposure, SmoothBlend technology, Kinetics Mode for automated bioluminescent kinetic curve acquisition with peak detection, Living Image file import compatibility, absolute calibration-based quantification, and support for BLI and FLI imaging. Aura v4.5 is the latest version.
• DecaFlow Animal Management System High-capacity animal management accessory for Lago and Lago X enabling simultaneous imaging of up to 20 mice via two 10-mouse manifold trays with heated benchtop staging. Allows non-stop continuous imaging by swapping trays between heated staging dock and instrument. Includes two 10-mouse trays and two docking stations. Active scavenging required.
• PentaFlow Animal Management System Animal management system for Lago and Ami systems supporting up to 10 mice via two 5-mouse manifold trays with heated benchtop staging. Enables efficient workflow by swapping trays while a second tray is being imaged. Includes two 5-mouse trays and two docking stations.
• Isolation Chamber HEPA-filtered, air-tight imaging chamber for handling immune-compromised and diseased animals. Prevents pathogens from entering the main imaging chamber. Designed in accordance with Aura's anti-glare software feature to avoid optical artifacts from reflections.
• Spectral Instruments Imaging Calibration Device (SIICD) Reference calibration check device used as a positive control to confirm system performance. Allows users to verify the system is functioning properly before imaging sessions. Used in conjunction with factory-set absolute NIST-traceable calibration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 36% more sensitivity than leading competitor based on minimum detectable radiance comparison
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and minor.

• InVivo AnalyticsstrategicTechnology or Integration · 11 February 2022Partnership for Quantitative 3D Bioluminescence with Lago X imaging system. InVivoPLOT technology enables validated automated quantitative 3D BLI imaging, with publications in Nature and Cell. Operated in cloud and powered by AI for automated image reconstruction.
• Somni ScientificminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSomni Scientific anesthesia systems sold as accessories through Spectral's accessories page. Includes AMD-3+ for gas delivery, EPS-3 for vacuum and active scavenging, vaporizer, induction chamber, and WAG filters.
• Somni 5L O2 ConcentratorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSomni 5L O2 concentrator with triple air filtration sold as accessory. Features multi-parameter display and integrates with any anesthesia system.
• VetEquipminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVetEquip anesthesia systems offered as accessories through Spectral's accessories page.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu supplies scientific CCD and sCMOS cameras and detectors that are key components in preclinical imaging systems. As an enabling technology provider, Hamamatsu is a supplier/ecosystem participant relevant to Spectral's camera-based architecture.

Direct peers

• Berthold Technologies: Berthold Technologies produces preclinical and in vivo imaging instruments including NightOwl and LB 983 systems. Competes with Spectral in bioluminescence and fluorescence small-animal imaging for research and pharmaceutical customers.
• LI-COR Biosciences: LI-COR offers the Pearl Trilogy small animal imaging system for near-infrared fluorescence. Competes with Spectral in fluorescence preclinical imaging, particularly for researchers using NIR probes and reporters.
• Molecubes: Molecubes manufactures benchtop preclinical μCT, PET, and SPECT systems. Spectral systems coregister with Molecubes modalities, and the two are complementary in multimodal preclinical workflows while competing for the same core facility budget.
• Revvity (Perkin Elmer IVIS): Revvity (formerly Perkin Elmer) is the long-standing market leader in preclinical in vivo optical imaging through its IVIS product family (Lumina, Spectrum, etc.). IVIS is the incumbent Spectral Instruments Imaging most frequently competes against in academic and biopharma accounts.
• Caliper Life Sciences (now part of Revvity): Caliper Life Sciences (now part of Revvity) historically developed the original IVIS preclinical imaging systems. Continues to compete with Spectral in the in vivo optical imaging segment via Revvity's Life Sciences portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Bruker Corporation: Bruker is both Spectral's parent company and a broad incumbent in preclinical imaging with μCT, PET, SPECT, and MRI modalities. Bruker's broader portfolio enables multimodal coregistration workflows and provides Spectral global commercial scale.
• Carl Zeiss (ZEISS Research Microscopy): ZEISS is a broad incumbent in life science imaging and microscopy. While not a direct optical preclinical BLI/FLI competitor, ZEISS competes for overall imaging budget in research cores and offers adjacent optical and microscopy platforms.

Emerging players

• Vieworks: Vieworks manufactures scientific and industrial cameras including sCMOS detectors used in life science and preclinical imaging. Adjacent competitor in detector technology that could enable competing preclinical imaging platforms.
• InVivo Analytics: InVivo Analytics provides AI-powered quantitative 3D bioluminescence tomography (InVivoPLOT/InVivoAX). Spectral has a strategic partnership to run InVivo Analytics software on the Lago X, but the firm also represents an emerging software/analysis competitive vector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/specimg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLWEOUbS0nMHd9BiHSEU19g/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/SIImaging
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spectral-instruments-imaging

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spectral Instruments Imaging