Fully Cooled LED Light Source Available for Fluorescence Microscopy

A fully cooled light-emitting diode (LED) light source is an important development in the field of fluorescence microscopy.

The precisExcite light source represents the most current technology available in LED technology. The light it provides is stable, completely controllable, and thermally cooled, making it ideal for microscopy applications such as live cell imaging, photobleaching, fast switching, multiple probe staining, and time-lapse imaging. Because there is no electromagnetic interference at the microscope, the system is also a good choice for electrophysiology experiments.

Introduced by Olympus (Center Valley, PA, USA) for fluorescence microscopy, precisExcite is manufactured by CoolLED (Hampshire, UK). precisExcite uses LEDs for exceptional stability and long lifetimes (> 10,000 hours). With narrow spectral profiles at each wavelength and precise control of intensity in 1% increments, specimens are protected from overexposure at the undesired wavelengths and high intensities typical of wide spectrum sources. The system can be configured using LEDs with peak wavelengths at 400, 445, 465, 505, 525, 595, and 635 nm. Additional wavelengths will be introduced in 2008.

LED arrays have sufficient light output to make them practical for fluorescence microscopy applications. The maximum efficiency of all LEDs is in the 15-30% range, and as such, their primary product is heat. By controlled cooling of the LEDs, it is possible to achieve greater stability and excite the fluorophores for longer periods. The new light source uses active cooling so LED arrays are always at the correct operating temperature.

In contrast, as the temperature of a non-cooled LED rises, its efficiency is diminished, causing even more heat in the junction. This heating can result in reduced intensity and a shift in peak wavelength that can have a substantial impact on fluorophore excitation. Increased heat can also reduce an LED's operating life.

Olympus America Scientific Equipment Group provides microscope-imaging systems for researchers, doctors, clinicians, and educators. The company offers excellent optics, construction, and system versatility to meet the ever-changing needs of microscopists.

CoolLED created new format LED arrays with sufficient power to make them suitable for ultraviolet (UV) curing in a wide range of applications in both the industrial and scientific markets.


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