Epi-illuminator options for Zaber Nucleus microscopes

Epi-illumination is a means of illuminating the sample with light emitted through the objective lens. The light is reflected off the sample or absorbed (e.g. excited) and re-emitted at a longer wavelength. Darkfield illumination is possible with an epi-illuminator via the use of a darkfield filter cube installed in the X-FCR06 filter cube turret in the MKR microscope core and the use of a darkfield objective. Darkfield can be useful for imaging defects on highly reflective surfaces where strong reflections from the epi-illuminator can overwhelm the detector.

Figure 1. Two illuminator options. The MLR3 (left) LED illuminator, and the MLG3A (right) 3mm liquid light guide coupler

The epi-illuminator, filter cube, fluorophore and camera work together to generate an image of the target. The Zaber MLR3 high-intensity LED light engine is available in two standard configurations optimized for popular fluorophores. Additional wavelengths (365, 590, 740) are available upon request and we can frequently turn around custom requests with a short lead time.

MLR3A

	Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3
Center Wavelength:	385 nm	473 nm	550 nm
Color:	UV	Blue	Green/Yellow
FWHM:	18 nm	25 nm	110 nm

Table 1. Summarized MLR3A properties

Figure 2. Illumination wavelengths for MLR3A compared to excitation spectra of common fluorophores

MLR3B

	Channel 1	Channel 2	Channel 3
Center Wavelength:	385 nm	N/A	625 nm
Color:	UV	White (3000 K)	Orange
FWHM:	18 nm	N/A	20 nm

Table 2. Summarized MLR3B properties

Figure 3. Illumination wavelengths for MLR3B compared to excitation spectra of common fluorophores

MLG3A

The MLG3A adaptor enables third party illuminators to be coupled to the epi-port on the X-FCR06 module via a standard 3 mm liquid light guide (e.g. Spectra X from Lumencor).

X-LCA4 Lighting Controller

MLR epi-illuminators and MLT transmitted illuminators both require the Zaber X-LCA4 lighting controller. This controller supports up to four LED channels. It also has knobs for easy manual control and four TTL compatible digital inputs and two digital outputs. The inputs can be set to trigger activation of specific channels, while the outputs can trigger external hardware.

Pattern Projectors

Alvéole pattern projectors for structured illumination can be mounted upon request.