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http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

Hello everyone,

It seems most agree that it is okay to have users have access during
after-hours. But I have another question in the same line:

How comfortable people are to leave the machine (Confocal, multi-photon)
running unattended overnight? This happens frequently in our place where
people need to make long term (>7, 8hrs) time-lapse experiments. I can
not really request the user to sit there waiting but to encourage them
to use it during “normal” hours. I ask them to inform me when they do an
overnight experiment and shut off fluorescent lamp. But it is more a
worry then anything I can do about it. Our building system refuses to
put a smoke detector  (linked to security desk) in the room. I am
thinking about put a webcam in the room or a remote access to the system
so I/user can check. But it is just an idea as our entire system is
behind firewall.

We have trained and untrained users. Trained use will have access to
online booking system and allowed to use the machine independently –
anytime of the day (if they have access to the building). Untrained one
can not use alone. It helps to have some instruction for basic things.
But I also put my phone number by the phone in the Facility. So people
can call me in case they do not know what to do (not so often so far).

As to the time required to train a new user, it depends really on the
user (and, maybe, the instructor too). Most of our users can be
comfortable within 2 sessions of 1-2 hrs training (Zeiss LSM510s). But I
got one user who had been on machine for at least 100hrs and still could
not manage by herself (needs help to get started, optimize settings,
etc.). Once she shut off the entire system while lasers were still
running in front of my eyes. But this is rather an extreme example as
she has no experience with computer/microscope at all (I once asked the
PI to put her on other project without success). We decided to have
training with 8 hrs of microscope time included. This is more then
enough for almost everyone to learn operating the machine alone. But
make sure they come in at least 2-3 sessions (not so long intervals)
instead of just one, long session. Meanwhile, I run a discussion group
every 2 weeks to give users some basics in optics and digital imaging in
complementary to the practical aspects of the instruments.

Have a nice day!

xuejun



Boris Joffe wrote:

>Search the CONFOCAL archive at
>http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>
>Dear List,
>
>after hours proved to be a very interesting discussion.
>
>I have a question and a small suggestion/request.
>
>The question:
>    how many hours should a new confocal user work in presence of an
>instructor to be allowed to work e.g., after hours ?
>I would consider two extreme cases:
>    a) a new user who routinely works with a microscope in his own lab
>    b) somebody for whom a a brand new confocal is the first microscope he
>has ever seen in his life ?
>
>It was great to find in Stephen Cody's message an instruction. Everybody
>knows brief instructions are necessary, but one rarely finds them outside
>core facilities. Of course, they are site-specific, but if we had more
>instruction posted in the list, it would be a great help, one could sort of
>"lego" his own one.
>
>The text above makes it clear that I do not currently have any written
>instruction (I work in a small lab) - sorry about that !
>
>Boris Joffe
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Stephen Cody" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003 3:01 AM
>Subject: Re: after-hours (and extended-hours) usage?
>
>
>
>
>>Dear List,
>>
>>I had a nice long reply drafted, was interrupted by one of our confocal
>>
>>
>users, and some how I've deleted the email! So here I go again.
>
>
>>Like Guy, I really can't see that the lenses are at any greater risk on
>>
>>
>weekends compared to business hours. The only lens we've had damaged was on
>a conventional microscope during the week. I'm not going to have a
>microscope expert stationed at every microscope to avoid this happening.
>
>
>>Turning confocals on and off is really quite a simple task. I instruct all
>>
>>
>users to put the arc lamp and laser on first. That's the only area where
>they may cause damage (even that is remote with most Hg power supplies).
>
>
>>All but the most infrequent users I'd be happy to use the confocal after
>>
>>
>hours. I have a laminated sheet that sits beside the keyboard spelling out
>the switch on and off procedures. But really how much trouble can they get
>into turning it on or off? Beside all switches I have placed a bright
>fluorescent, numbered sticker that corresponds to the instructions. This is
>more a security blanket for the users than anything else. I instruct all
>users to wind the focus right to the bottom, so that if the next user was to
>spin the nosepiece around the lenses would be safe. The main benefit of this
>policy is that it acts as a constant reminder to look after the lenses.
>
>
>>Everyone is instructed to wipe the oil lens clean at the end and to put
>>
>>
>away the water immersion lens. I check periodically after users have left to
>see that people have complied, if not I give them a gentle reminder. It is
>just as easy to check the lenses first thing Monday morning as it is 3pm
>Wed. afternoon.
>
>
>>During business hours, after initial instruction, I remove myself from the
>>
>>
>confocal room, but make myself available if they have any questions. This
>rapidly builds confidence and independence in the user. I always tell new
>users that they are very unlikely to break anything as long as they don't
>bash the lens. So I don't see why it should be any different on the weekend.
>
>
>>For those interested I've cut and pasted the turn on and off instructions
>>
>>
>below.
>
>
>>Cheers
>>Stephen H. Cody
>>
>>Microscopy Manager
>>Central Resource for Advanced Microscopy
>>Ludwig Institute For Cancer Research
>>Post Office Royal Melbourne Hospital
>>Parkville  Victoria    3050
>>Australia
>>Tel: 61 3 9341 3155    Fax: 61 3 9341 3104
>>email: [log in to unmask]
>>www.ludwig.edu.au/labs/confocal.html
>>
>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>Central Resource for Advanced Microscopy
>>Bio-Rad MRC-1000/1024
>>Confocal Microscope Switch On Procedure
>>Safety Check! Check that there is a lens, cap, or alignment prism in every
>>
>>
>position of the lens nosepiece.
>
>
>>(1) Turn ON power (power point). Left-hand side of room.
>>If you require conventional fluorescence
>>(2) Turn on power switch of arc lamp power supply.
>>(3) Press and HOLD ignition button of arc lamp power supply for
>>
>>
>approximately 5 seconds (until your hear a second click).
>
>
>>(4) Turn on power supply for laser. Turn key ¼ turn clockwise
>>(5) Turn on System Control Unit (SCU, the large cream coloured box under
>>
>>
>bench).
>
>
>>(6) Turn on the computer. Push button in recess.
>>(7) When computer has finished booting, double click left mouse button on
>>
>>
>the “Acquisition” icon.
>
>
>>Switch Off Procedure
>>(1) Shutdown “Acquisition” Software. Click on the  “  ?   ” symbol, top
>>
>>
>right corner.
>
>
>>(2) Transfer files with FTP software.
>>(3) Check files on Ludwig computer, to see if they’re intact. Check the
>>
>>
>last image of Z or Time series files.
>
>
>>(4) If all images have transferred safely, delete images from the confocal
>>
>>
>computers local hard drive.
>
>
>>(5) Shutdown FTP software. Click on the  “  ?   ” symbol, top right corner.
>>(6) Close down computer. Click on “Shutdown” icon, near the bottom left
>>
>>
>corner of screen.
>
>
>>(7) Turn off SCU
>>(8) Turn off laser power supply. Turn the key ¼ turn counter-clockwise.
>>(9) Turn off arc lamp power supply
>>(10) When the computer says it is safe: Turn off computer.
>>(11) Turn off isolation switch on wall. Left side of room.
>>(12) With a new, clean Kimwipe, wipe any oil from oil immersion objective
>>
>>
>OR water from water immersion lens. Whilst cleaning lenses always use a
>fresh part of the Kimwipe for each consecutive wiping action. If the water
>immersion lens was used, please put it away, replacing another lens on the
>nosepiece.
>
>
>>(13) Clean top of microscope stage of any spilt liquids.
>>(14) If focus lock was used. Check focus lock is disengaged. Check focus
>>
>>
>torsion is set to approximately half.
>
>
>>(15) Wind focus knobs so that the lenses are all the way down.
>>(16) Safety Check! Check that there is a lens, cap, or alignment prism in
>>
>>
>every position of the lens nosepiece.
>
>
>>(17) Double check that the only instrument light on is ONE AMBER light on
>>
>>
>the monitor.
>
>
>>(18) Please leave the air-conditioning ON. Please don’t alter temperature
>>
>>
>or other settings.
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

--
Xuejun Sun, Ph.D.
Dept. Exp. Oncology
Cross Cancer Institute
11560 University ave.
Edmonton Alberta T6G 1Z2
Canada

Phone:  (780) 432-8898 (office)
        (780) 432-8468 (lab.)
Fax:    (780) 432-8425