FM-Is3 Fluorescence Microscope Calcium Imaging Light Source

 

 

Key Features

Exceeds the brightness of 100W Mercury Lamp
Cool light
Instant ON/OFF. No warm-up or cool-down required
Adjust light output
Easy installation
 

 

Wavelength Range: 350-780nm 
External Power Supply: Universal input 110-240V, 50/60Hz
Related Fluorescence: DAPI, GFP/FITC, Texas Red, Cy3
Sample LED FWHM: 454/24.8nm  523/36nm  368/16nm 
Power Consumption: 40W
Dimensions HEAD: 142×95×85mm (L×W×H)
Dimensions TOUCH PAD: 130×126×20mm (L×W×H)
LED ON/OFF Response Time: 1ms
I/O Connector: PS/2
Control method: RS-232
LED Life Time: 30000 hours                      

 

BANDS	BANDS	CHANNEL	POWER(mW)
DAPI	V	330-380	35
FITCH	B	450-490	65
TRITC	G	510-550	50

 

 

All mercury arc lamps used a common heat absorbing filter from Schott…the 
KG1. Further, all Ploem illuminators (still today) used a RED absorbing filter, 
again from Schott, the BG-38 blue glass. These two filters are normally 
removed from the light path when one is working in the near UV range using 
filter block 400nm.
I have measured the temperature of the illumination beam of the HBO 100W 
bulb using an analog "meat thermometer" with probe tip. I have measured the 
temperature of the collimated beam immediately after the KG1 heat filter and 
recorded temperatures in the range from 85-95F depending on placement 
position. I then measured the temperature down on the stage of the 
microscope with both the BG-38 and filter cube in position (no objective lens).
Filters cubes used were the H (Blue light 510 block) and N(Green light 580 
block). I found that the temperature range on the surface of the microscope 
stage where the slide would be placed was only a few degrees above room 
temperature. The KG1 and BG38 filters along with the combined exciter filter 
and emission (barrier) filters and filter blocks (dichroic beam splitters) were 
doing their job nicely. 
One problem encountered by those doing epifluorescence microscopy using the 
arc lamp is "quenching" of the fluorescent dye (fluorochrome). "Fading" of the 
emitted light during exposure became somewhat of a problem. Certain "antifade" tricks applied during sample prep became a useful solution to some 
extent. Certainly the advantage of using LED as an alternative to mercury arc 
lamps is now realized. One turns on the LED (optimized for the four dichroic 
blocks 400, 455, 510 and 580nm) and then simply reduces intensity as you 
would with a halogen bulb. LED illumination is not as "cool" as you would 
think. The same heat and red absorbing filters are called for. "Fading" (and 
temperature) is then reduced by adjusting the intensity of the LED. No warm up 
or shutdown problems with LED. No shutters are needed in the light path. The 
LED can easily be controlled via connection to your computer. LED illumination 
lasts 20-50,000 hours. Mercury arc bulbs last about 200 hours and cost about 
$200.00 each. Do the math and accept the performance enhancements found 
with modern LED illumination. We no longer use silver halide for 
documentation in microscopy….we are in a digital world now and the LED 
promises to be the most efficient light source for optical light microscopy
fluorescence studies. Contact FSM with any questions. We have the best 
alternative LED lighting now for taking the place of mercury arc illumination.
 

 

With 6 years working, we succesfully get a good LED illuminator for microscope. It provides stable performance and over 20000 hours lifetime. 
Max 9 channels in a device.