Ian,
If you wish to capture multiple discreet wavelengths, then the Optical Insights modules (2 or 4 wavelength versions) are the way to go. They can be found at www.optical-insights.com. Their products are well designed and easily reconfigured to accommodate different experimental probes.
If you would like high resolution spectral data at multiple points along an axis in the image, we have the Acton SpectraPro 150 with a c-mount input and a kinematic slit (products described at http://www.acton-research.com/prod_spectrapro.shtml). You can move the slit into the imaging position and use a mirror on the internal turret for imaging. Then you put the slit down into position and move the grating into position and you have high resolution spectra at all points along a horizontal axis. This configuration was also used by Dr. Robert MacDonald of Northwestern University in Evanston to monitor lipid vessicle mixing at high speeds (being published currently -http://www.biochem.northwestern.edu/ibis/faculty/macdonald.html). You can contact me if you have further interest in this type of configuration.
If you would like whole field of view spectral imaging at high resolution and can afford to wait a while, Applied Spectral Imaging has an interferometer based method of image collection based on the SpectraCube (http://www.spectral-imaging.com/). This device has been shown to be very valuable in MFISH type applications in particular.
Regards,
Mark
Mark Christenson, Ph.D.
Business Manager
Life Sciences
Roper Scientific
3440 E. Britannia Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85706
Phone (520) 547-2784
FAX (520) 573-1944
E-mail [log in to unmask]
Web www.roperscientific.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Clements [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 3:44 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Spectral imaging with a camera system
Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
Not entirely confocal but some of Jim's comments on autofluoresence got me
curious.
I was wondering if anyone knew of a image splitter device, like those from
Optical Insights, being used for performing spectral imaging. Conceivably if
you equipped the image splitter with appropriate filters, perhaps 20 nm apart,
you could capture 2-4 images on a single CCD camera (I think they have such a
configuration).
With appropriate software for linear unmixing analysis you could have something
analogous to the META system but one that could be configured for different
wavelength ranges by swapping the filters. Depending on the amount of light
lost you could have a relative fast, reasonable resolution spectral imager, it
might be a good setup for a spinning disk system..
I dare say the same could be acheived with an emission filter wheel but it would
be somewhat slower.
I'd be interested in hearing about other spectral imaging devices anyone has had
experience with. I'm familar with Lightform's Pariss, the Zeiss META, Leica's
SP system and BioRad's Rainbow(?).
If I'm overlooking something obvious in the above please let me know.
No particular connection with any of the above companies, just looking to stay
informed.
Ian Clements
Imaging Technology Group
Molecular Probes Inc
"Believing you know something is a most effective barrier against learning".