Light Microscopy
Light microscopes have two categories: transmitted light and reflected light scopes. Our high-resolution digital microscopes image using reflected light, making them especially useful for examining surface structure and morphology. For examining the inside of cells and tissues, the confocal microscope makes use of high-powered lasers to develop both sharp images and videos of prepared samples. Fluorescent probes, or fluorophores are especially useful for tagging specific structures, and operate similarly to a histological stain - except instead of using the entire range of visible light to reflect a specific color of light, these chemical compounds emit light when excited with a specific wavelength from a laser. This makes the confocal scope capable of developing great images for publication that will show notable differences in cellular mechanisms, signaling, or morphology.
FLUOVIEW FV3000 Confocal Microscope
Lasers (avg. wavelength underlined): OBIS405-50LX, OBIS445-75LX, OBIS488-20LS, OBIS514-40LX,
OBIS561-20LS, OBIS594-20LS, OBIS640-40LX
Objective Lenses (magnification underlined): UPLSAPO10X2, UPLFLN10X2, UPLFLN10X2PH, UPLFLN20X,
UPLFLN20XPH, UPLFLN40X, UPLFLN20XPH, CPLFLN10XPH,
UCPFLN20X, LUCPLFLN20XPH, LUCPFLN40X, LUCPFLN40XPH,
LUCPFLN60X, LUCPFLN60XPH
A Confocal Laser Scanning microscope works by directing high-energy lasers to singular points on the sample, then rastering the laser across the sample surface. Extremely high-quality images are produced by measuring the emitted or reflected light returned from the scan. The FLUOVIEW FV3000 is also capable of filming videos due to its potential for high scan speeds. Various channels for each laser and emitted light result in several images which can either be combined into one picture or viewed on separate panels to visualize exactly where each fluorophore is present.
Using multiple two-dimensional DIC/phase contrast or fluorescent images, a three-dimensional structure can be generated to better visualize the sample's arrangement in space.
KEYENCE VHX-5000 / KEYENCE VHX-600
Magnification: Standard Lens, 20-200x / Wide Lens, 5-50x
Image Quality: 1612 (H) x 1212 (V) per capture / max size of 20000 pixels (H) x 20000 pixels (V) with stitching
KEYENCE digital microscopes allow for several approaches to imaging. The powerful VHX-5000 has a 1.95 million pixel CMOS image sensor, providing extremely high resolution images - made even more useful with its image stitching function, where several pictures are taken of an area (using the computer-controlled moving stage) and subsequently combined in-software. With image stitching, two barriers are broken for research imaging. First, studying larger specimens becomes much more feasible, where lower magnifications can allow high resolution images of even specimens as large as 25cm. Secondly, there is much less of a trade-off between imaging at high magnifications and losing viewing area by stitching together several images at a high resolution.
Additionally, the KEYENCE scopes are capable of stitching together image stacks, where many pictures are taken at one location as the lens moves upwards. These images are then averaged to remove any out-of-focus sections. This allows the depth of field for KEYENCE images to remain surprisingly large even at high magnification. The data from these stitches also results in a three-dimensional topographic map of the sample.
KEYENCE digital microscopes are capable of tilting up to nearly 90 degrees for more difficult imaging jobs.
The image below displays some high-resolution images taken with the KEYENCE VHX-5000. Clockwise from the top left: Cyprinella venusta (Blacktail shiner), test substrate for materials science, jaw bone of a small mammal, beetle encased in amber.
