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confocal

The Confocal Microscope and Imaging Facility


OVERVIEW: The Confocal Microscope and Imaging Facility is located in The Department of Physiology and Pharmacology of the Basic Science Building at Downstate Medical Center. The Imaging Facility consists of a Biorad Radiance 2000 Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope and an Image Analysis Workstation. The Imaging Facility is available to all TRAINED members of the Downstate Medical Center community as well as to other researchers by appointment. Charges are made for training and for use of the confocal microscope.

Features of our Biorad Radiance 2000 Confocal Microscope: Argon laser, green Helium Neon laser and a red laser diode allow viewing of FITC, CY2, CY3, TRITC/Texas Red and/or CY5 like fluorophores.

Transmitted Light Detector for differential interference contrast (DIC; Nomarski) imaging (these images can be superimposed on the confocal fluorescence images and can be used to locate non-fluorescent structures)

A Zeiss Axioskop 2 upright microscope with mechanical stage and motorized z-axis 10X (dry), 20X (dry), 40X, 63X and 100X (oil immersion) objectives. Polarizers and prisms for the 20X, 40X, and 63X objectives allow DIC viewing by eye or via laser scanning.

Simultaneous and sequential multi-channel acquisition.

AOTF control of illumination that leads to reduced fluorophore fading and extended viability of live preparations.

Scanning up to 750 Hz.Pentium III PC computer running WindowsNT 4.0 with Biorad LaserSharp 2000 software for image viewing and processing
  • 3D rendering of data in stereo or rotating projections
  • photon counting
  • time-lapse acquisition
Zip Drive and CD-ROM writer for permanent data storage. Files can also be transferred to your lab computers via Ethernet

Software available on the system in addition to Biorad LaserSharp 2000:
  • Confocal Assistant
  • Photoshop 5.0.
Charges: Each user or lab must provide an account number for billing.
  • Laser time: $30/hr. M-F 9AM-6PM.
  • Training: included in user fee
  • Technical Support: included in user fee
Scheduling Confocal Use: Call, e-mail, or stop by to discuss your experiments before you use the Confocal Microscope.

A sign-up sheet is available to all users in BSB Rm 2-78A.
You may sign up for a maximum of three hours per day and six hours per week, unless arranged otherwise with the director.

You must cancel in advance or be charged for any time that you do not use.

All users must be trained on how to use the Biorad Confocal microscope and the associated computer equipment and software. Training is directed towards producing independent users. Once trained and checked out, users are allowed independent access to the equipment. Training, which involves major contact time, requires an appointment.

Location: The confocal microscope is housed in room 2-78A of the Basic Science Building (BSB).

Useful Links for Confocal Microscopy:

http://swehsc.pharmacy.arizona.edu/exppath/old/conf_www.html

Confocal Microscopy Resources on the WWW
http://www.ki.se/cns/confocal/uselinks.htmlConfocal Club

http://www.cs.ubc.ca/spider/ladic/conflink.html