Question:
Which is the principle of the fluorescence microscopy and the applications?
Answer:
-Introduction
Fluorescence is the luminescence of a substance when it is excited by radiation.
Some biological material like chlorophyll, oils, waxes have primary fluorescence that is called auto-fluorescence. The most biological molecules do not fluorescence on their own. They have to be linked to fluorochromes in order to create specific fluorescent samples.
The fluorescence of a substance is observed when the molecule is exposed to a specific wave length of light and the light is emitted.
To show the fluorescence in the microscope, several light filtering components are necessary to isolate the excitation and emission wave length of a fluorochrome.
-The basic components
Three basic components are present in a fluorescence microscope.
• Mercury arc burner is a very bright lamps that needs maintenance and care to produce a very bright light beam for florescence excitation.
• Dichroic beam splitter or partial mirror which reflects lower wavelength of light and allows higher wavelength to pass. A beam splitter is requested because the objective acts as a condenser lens for the excitation wave length as well as the objective lens for emission. The beam splitter isolates the emitted light from the excitation wave length.
• Epi-illumination type of light path that is required to create a dark background so that the fluorescence can be easily seen. The wavelength at which a beam splitter allows the higher wavelenght to pass must be set between the excitation and emission wave lengths of any given fluorochrome so that excitation light is reflected and emission light is allowed to pass through it.
-Fluorochromes
Fluorochromes are stains that are capable of attaching themselves to visible or sub-visible organic matter. They absorb and re-radiate light with high specificity in their targeting, They have also a significant yead in absorption-emission ratios. Fore this reason they are extremely valuable in biological applications.
• Applications
The fluorescence microscopy can be applied to organic material, living cell material or formerly living material or to inorganic material.
• Advantages of fluorescence microscopy
-Less hazardous than radioisotopic techniques
-Less expensive than radioisotopic techniques
-More sensitive than colorimetric methods.
Question:
How do care the microscopes?
Answer:
Your microscope is a precision optical instrument and should be treated with care at all times. Follow these care and maintenance suggestions and your microscope will need very little maintenance throughout its lifetime.
When you are done using your microscope, remove any specimens left on the stage.
Turn off the illuminator switch.
Unplug the power cord.
Always place the plastic bag over the microscope when not in use or when being stored.
Store the microscope in a dry and clean place.
Be very careful if using your microscope in direct sun light to prevent damage to the microscope or your eyes.
When moving your microscope, carry it with both hands (if possible) by the base or the round body.
Clean the outside surfaces with a moist cloth.
Always unplug any cords before cleaning.
Never clean optical surfaces with cloth or paper towels as they can scratch optical surfaces easily.
Blow off dust with a camel’s hair brush or an air blower from optical surfaces.
To clean fingerprints off of optical surfaces, use a lens cleaning agent and lens tissue available at most photo outlets and when cleaning do not rub in circles as this may cause sleeks or scratches to occur.
Never disassemble or clean internal optical surfaces. This should be done by qualified technicians at the factory or other authorized repair facilities.
When handling glass specimen slides, use care as the edges can be sharp.
Question:
Which are the fundamental points for a correct maintenance of the laboratory microscope?
Answer:
Care and Maintenance
Your microscope is a precision optical instrument and should be treated with care at all times. Follow these care and maintenance suggestions and your microscope will need very little maintenance throughout its lifetime.
When you are done using your microscope, remove any specimens left on the stage.
Turn off the illuminator switch.
Unplug the power cord.
Always place the plastic bag over the microscope when not in use or when being stored.
Store the microscope in a dry and clean place.
Be very careful if using your microscope in direct sun light to prevent damage to the microscope or your eyes.
When moving your microscope, carry it with both hands (if possible) by the base or the round body.
Clean the outside surfaces with a moist cloth.
Always unplug any cords before cleaning.
Never clean optical surfaces with cloth or paper towels as they can scratch optical surfaces easily.
Blow off dust with a camel’s hair brush or an air blower from optical surfaces.
To clean fingerprints off of optical surfaces, use a lens cleaning agent and lens tissue available at most photo outlets and when cleaning do not rub in circles as this may cause sleeks or scratches to occur.
Never disassemble or clean internal optical surfaces. This should be done by qualified technicians at the factory or other authorized repair facilities.
When handling glass specimen slides, use care as the edges can be sharp.
