Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

Another lab called me about uneven illumination from the liquid light  
guide attached to a Sutter DG-4.  directing the adapter  at the wall  
showed a  pattern of more or less concentric rings, dark in the  
center, that was not corrected by focusing light  guide in the  
adapter.  In this case the problem was that the light guide had been  
bent too sharply coming out of the DG-4 after a recent move to a new  
lab.  It had been allowed to drop directly down to the floor from its  
connection to the DG-4.  Fortunately, they had a spare on the shelf.  I

Regards,
Glen
Glen MacDonald
Core for Communication Research
Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center
Box 357923
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-7923  USA
(206) 616-4156
[log in to unmask]

************************************************************************ 
******
The box said "Requires WindowsXP or better", so I bought a Macintosh.
************************************************************************ 
******


On Apr 28, 2008, at 7:42 AM, Petrak, Lara J. wrote:

> Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi- 
> bin/wa?S1=confocal
> Dave,
>
> If you suspect that your light guide is breaking down, you can  
> remove the guide from the lamp housing and microscope adaptor, hold  
> up the lamp housing end to a bright room light, and look at the  
> window on the other end.  The light should look bright and evenly  
> illuminated.  If it’s dim and/or uneven then it’s got problems.  It  
> also helps if you have second light guide for comparison.
>
> Best,
> Lara Petrak
>
> From: Confocal Microscopy List  
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Knecht
> Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 4:47 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: EXFO Lamps
>
> What is the sign that your liquid light guide is breaking down?  Dave
>
> On Apr 25, 2008, at 11:54 AM, Fred Mast wrote:
>
>
> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>
> The EXFO provides a more even illumination. It has weaker the hot  
> spots and excitation wavelength spikes as compared to the Hg bulbs.  
> So for GFP, or other fluorophores excited around 488, you won't get  
> as high of a signal.
>
> The downside to the EXFO is that their coupler is a liquid that  
> breaks down over time. We had to replace ours already after only  
> 2000 hours of use and were told that they should last for 5000+  
> hours but depending on length of time in storage and/or temperature  
> during transport the lifetime of the cable can be shortened.
>
> Fred
>
> On 25-Apr-08, at 8:34 AM, Andrew P. Shaw wrote:
>
>
> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
>> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>>
>> On a related note.  I have read from others on the list about how  
>> incredibly
>> bright the EXFO lamps are.  We recently bought one and have found  
>> that while
>> the field is very evenly illuminated,the light really isn't all  
>> that bright.  We
>> always have to use it maximum intensity and still have about 1/2 the
>> brightness we had with our old Hg HBO-103 bulbs.  Have other  
>> experience the
>> same, or do you think we have a faulty light / optic  guide?
>>
>
> Fred D. Mast
> Department of Cell Biology
> Medical Sciences Building Room 5-14
> University of Alberta
> Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H7
> Canada
>
> Tel: 1-780-492-7407
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Dr. David Knecht
> Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
> Co-head Flow Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy Facility
> U-3125
> 91 N. Eagleville Rd.
> University of Connecticut
> Storrs, CT 06269
> 860-486-2200
> 860-486-4331 (fax)
>
>
>