Milton Charlton wrote:
 
>>>Does anyone have a list of filter wheels which could be software
>>>controlled and which fit the Nikon Optiphot (upright epifluorescence
>>>microscope).
>>>Also I would like to use a light pipe to couple the filter wheel to
>>>the microscope to minimize vibration transfer.  Does anyone have
>>>experience with a system using a light pipe?
 
Kevin Pedley wrote:
>>I use a very nice wheel from a UK company called Cairn Instruments.  It
>>steps between adjacent positions in 20 msec, has 6 or 8 filter positions,
>>can be attached to an existing lamphouse or use its own and supply to the
>>microscope is via a light guide.  I use it for ratio-imaging from NIH-Image
>>on the Mac and drive it from the modem port via an interface which gives 8
>>TTL output lines, so that I can use the spare lines to drive a shutter,
>>switch media, etc.  It also works on the PC.
 
Michael Herron wrote:
>I am aiming towards setting up a system such as you describe.  I would
>appreciate any information you could send me describing your system's details.
>Both hardware and software.
 
>We would like to visualize calcium fluxes in neutrophils, endothelial cells, and
>keratinocytes.  I have priced turnkey systems and balked at the cost.  In
>addition I think that a system such as yours might be more flexible.
 
>I use NIH Image for more common lab duties right now.
 
I would also recommend the Cairn system. It is a modular system and can be
put together according to your requirements. The light guide is a fluid
filled light guide so it can transmitt UV, so works well with dyes such as
Fura-2. They can be contacted as below:
 
Dr. Martin Thomas
Cairn Research
email [log in to unmask]
Stephen H. Cody,                                        __    /
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