Epiflourescence Microscope

Description

Essential requirements: • Research-grade inverted microscope chassis, stage, transmitted light illumination, eyepieces etc • Microscope should be capable of phase and differential interference contrast transmitted light methods. • Objectives 10, 20, 40 and ~60 or 100x optimised for epifluorescence observation and DIC, 20 and 40x objectives optimised for UV excitation for Fura 2 (@340 & 380 nm, if different from standard epifluorescence objectives), additional 20 and 40x for phase contrast. • Epifluorescence light source to provide illumination for cellular physiology studies (excitation suitable for a range of dyes including fura 2) should include software controlled shutter, or equivalent, to control illumination and synchronise to image acquisition. • Epifluorescence light source for general epifluorescence imaging (2 and 3 above) if different • Ability to mount both epifluorescence illumination systems and switch between physiology and high-resolution epifluorescence imaging modes • Monochrome camera suitable for real-time imaging cellular physiology • Monochrome camera for high resolution general epifluorescence (if different from above) • Ability to mount both cameras and switch between physiology and high-resolution epifluorescence imaging modes • Image acquisition and analysis software suitable for running cellular physiology studies • Image acquisition and analysis software suitable for general epifluorescence studies. Ability to combine fluorescence images to produce composite images, ability to undertake image analysis/cytometry measurements of fluorescently labelled specimens. Desirable requirements: • Motorised control of microscope operation • Additional image analysis options for analysis of standard histopathology tissue sections Other: • If all capability is not possible on one microscope chassis then would consider two systems.