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Greetings Timothy,
You can get an EOM from Linos Photonics (LM 0202 KD*P version w/ 5x5
aperture; the 5W model) for about $1650 ( 1 year warranty).  The
associated pulse amplifier (LIV 20, part no. 50 2060) is about $4600.
These are the same parts that Leica uses.
    For control from the Leica LCS software, there are some special
cables that hook up to the back of the pulse amp and also the offset and
pulse connections on the front of the pulse amp.  I'm not sure if
something in the software needs an activation key to permit user control
of the pulse amp from the software interface; this could be the part
that costs the other $40k or so.  You could be lucky, in which case
you'll just need the appropriate cables.
    The Pulse Amp could likely be controlled independent of the Leica
software using something like a National Instruments arbitrary wave-form
generator board and LabView on a separate pc triggered using the
triggering provision in the Leica LCS software (trigger output on laser
crate to trigger input on NI board).  This would be a little bit of a
project to get an interface for drawing ROI's and having the ROI
translated into the appropriate signal for the EOM to realize the ROI,
but it could be done.
Regards,
Karl

Timothy Dore wrote:

> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>
> I have a Leica TCS SP2 multiphoton microscope on which I would like
> to install an electro-optical modulator (EOM) to do uncaging
> experiments.  These would work similarly to FRAP experiments.  I am
> looking for a way to get the Leica confocal software to talk to the
> EOM so that I can define regions of interest within the microscope
> field.  I have a limited budget, meaning that I cannot afford to
> purchase the EOM and installation from Leica ($50K).  Has anyone
> installed a 3rd party EOM on their Leica TCS SP2?  Thanks for any
> suggestions.
>
> Tim
> --
> Timothy M. Dore, Ph.D.                      Email:  [log in to unmask]
> Assistant Professor                           Tel:  (706) 583-0423
> Department of Chemistry                       FAX:  (706) 542-9454
> University of Georgia                         URL:
> http://www.chem.uga.edu/
> Athens, GA 30602-2556                      Office:  514 Chemistry


--
Karl Garsha
Light Microscopy Specialist
Imaging Technology Group
Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
405 North Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
Office: B650J
Phone: 217.244.6292
Fax: 217.244.6219
Mobile: 217.390.1874
www.itg.uiuc.edu