Confocal Instrumentation
Central to our Confocal Service is the Olympus® FLUOVIEW Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope. It is a point-scanning, pinhole-detection, laser-based confocal fluorescence microscope that enables acquisition of high resoultion fluorescence and transmission images with high sensitivity. The system includes a fully integrated workstation which incorporates image acquisition and image analysis software with high resolution confocal optics.
The services offered include Time Lapse Observation, Brightfield/Phase Contrast, Subcellular Protein Localization, Transmitted Light Nomarski DIC, Optical Sectioning & 3D Reconstruction, Simutaneous Fluorescence & Digital Image Capture, and Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH). It is equipped with an air-cooled Argon laser with an emmission wavelength of 488nm and an air-cooled Krypton laser with two emmission lines at 568nm and 647nm.
Digital Color Video System Specifications
Diagnostic Instruments "Spot" color digital camera. Includes 1 stage Peltier cooling to 37 degrees C below ambient (limit-12 degrees C). CCD format and resolution as follows: 1315 X 1035 pixels (1,361,025 pixels); 6.8 micron X 6.8 micron pixel size. Active area 8.94mm X 7.04mm, 24 Bit color resolution displayed and saved (8 bits per color). 36 Bit raw data read (12 bits per color). Data transfer rate 1.08MHz (for Pentium 166, rate is CPU dependent). Includes choice of either auto or manual exposures settings (from 80ms to 17 minutes per color). Lens mount is standard "F" mount. Includes 4 subframes per second fast focus. image file size - 4MB. Includes proprietary software environment for SQL compliant image database and Twain driver for use with Twain compliant programs. Windows 95 andWindows 3.11 compatable.
Transmitted Light & Nomarski Specifications
Transmitted light detector unit: detects transmitted light for transfer to one of the photomultiplier channels through the optical fiber for forming transmitted light (non-confocal) images. Collector lens assembvly for transmitted light detector unit. IX-DP10; 10X Normarski DIC Prism for use with the 10X CPLFL/UPLFL objectives and IX-LWUCD condenser.
Computer Specifications
Pentium III 500MHz PC NT workstation, 256MB RAM, 9GB SCSI HD, 24x CD ROM, with high performance graphic card. Additional 256MB RAM for FV-PCNT. 21" Monitor with 1600 X 1200 resolution.
Software
Graphics software FLUO VIEW2.1 for 3D visualization analysis. Allows extended focus display and ray projection volume rendering of XYZ image data sets. The 2D and #d display function provides a comparison of 2 different image data sets and/or image slices of a 3D or time lapse series. This is complemented by a movie function for time lapse viewing. Also, allows to plot intensity statistcs over Z axis. Image data is saved in TIFF format.
Microscope Specifications
IX-LWUCD: Long-Working-Distance Turret Condenser, N.A. 0.55, W.D. 23.3mm. 5 available positions: three 30mm diameter positions (#1, #2, #3 position in the turret) acceps either the IX-PHL, IX-PHC, IX-PHI, or IX-PH2 Phase Annuli; or the IX-DP10/IX-DP20 Normarski DIC Prisms. The two other positions (#4, #5 in the turret) are 38mm diameter. The #5 position is not centerable and can only be used for DIC or brightfield. The #4 position accepts either the IX-PHS Phase Annulus; or the IX-DP40/IX-DP60 Normarski DIC Prisms. To be used with the 12V/100W Illumination Pillars. The interference green filter and centering telescope are recommended for phase contrast observation.
IX-UCLHG/XE: Collector Lens with extended focus stroke for critical through Koehler Illuminator.
U-MNIB: modular filter cube for fluorescence microscopy, narrow band interference blue excitation, exciter filter BP 470-490nm, dichromatic beamsplitter DM 500, barrier filter BA 525 IF.
U-MNG: modular filter cube for fluorescence microscopy, narrow band green excitation, exciter filter BP 530-550nm, dichromatic beamsplitter DM 570, barrier filter BA 590.
U-ULH: Universal lamp housing: accepts 100W Halogen, 100W Mercury and 75W Xenon lamp sockets and collector lenses.
U-HG100T3: 100W Mercury lamp socket and power supply.
UPLFL 10X: 10X Plan Fluorite "Universal" objective, infinity-corrected, F.N. 26.5; N.A. 0.30; W.D. 10.10mm. For brightfield, darkfield, Nomarski DIC, polarization and fluorescence.
UPLFL 20X: 20X Plan Fluorite "Universal" objective, infinity-corrected, F.N. 26.5; N.A. 0.50; W.D. 1.60mm: spring-loaded. For brightfield, darkfield, Nomarski DIC, polarization and fluorescence.
UPLAP040XOI: 40X U Plan Apochromat Oil Immersion "Universal" objective with iris, infinity-corredted. F.N. 26.5; N.A. variable from 1.0 to 0.7. W.D. 0.14mm; spring-loaded. For brightfield, darkfield, Nomarski DIC, polarization and high UV transmission fluorescence.
PLAPO60XO: 60X Plan Apochromat Oil Imersion objective, infinity-corrected, superwide 26.5. N.A. 1.4; W.D. 0.10mm; spring-loaded.For brightfield, darkfield, Nomarski DIC, polarization and fluorescence.
IX-DP20: 20X DIC Prism (30mm diameter) for use with the 20X LCPLFL phase/brightfield objectives with the IX-LWUCD
IX-DP40: 40X DIC Prism (38mm diameter) for use with the 40X LCPLFL phase/brightfield objectives with the IX-LWUCD condenser.
U-DICT: DIC Slider for Transmitted Light Nomarski Differential Interference Contrast with single prism for use with 4X - 100X objectives.
IX-LWPO: Polarizer for DIC. To be used with the IX-LWUCD condenser.
IX-AN: IX analyzer
Confocal Confocal Links Confocal Protocol
Last updated: 11-March-02
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