A simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopes
Back-scattering darkfield (BSDF), epi-fluorescence (EF), interference reflection contrast (IRC), and darkfield surface reflection (DFSR) are advanced but expensive light microscopy techniques with limited availability. Here we show a simple optical design that combines these four techniques in a sim...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
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Nature Publishing Group
2016
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| _version_ | 1797050445512835072 |
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| author | Ishmukhametov, R Russell, A Wheeler, R Nord, A Berry, R |
| author_facet | Ishmukhametov, R Russell, A Wheeler, R Nord, A Berry, R |
| author_sort | Ishmukhametov, R |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Back-scattering darkfield (BSDF), epi-fluorescence (EF), interference reflection contrast (IRC), and darkfield surface reflection (DFSR) are advanced but expensive light microscopy techniques with limited availability. Here we show a simple optical design that combines these four techniques in a simple low-cost miniature epi-illuminator, which inserts into the differential interference-contrast (DIC) slider bay of a commercial microscope, without further additions required. We demonstrate with this device: 1) BSDF-based detection of Malarial parasites inside unstained human erythrocytes; 2) EF imaging with and without dichroic components, including detection of DAPI-stained Leishmania parasite without using excitation or emission filters; 3) RIC of black lipid membranes and other thin films, and 4) DFSR of patterned opaque and transparent surfaces. We believe that our design can expand the functionality of commercial bright field microscopes, provide easy field detection of parasites and be of interest to many users of light microscopy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T18:05:16Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:013b2ee6-3f6d-4735-8c80-d8c718c5919c |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T18:05:16Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:013b2ee6-3f6d-4735-8c80-d8c718c5919c2022-03-26T08:33:43ZA simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:013b2ee6-3f6d-4735-8c80-d8c718c5919cSymplectic Elements at OxfordNature Publishing Group2016Ishmukhametov, RRussell, AWheeler, RNord, ABerry, RBack-scattering darkfield (BSDF), epi-fluorescence (EF), interference reflection contrast (IRC), and darkfield surface reflection (DFSR) are advanced but expensive light microscopy techniques with limited availability. Here we show a simple optical design that combines these four techniques in a simple low-cost miniature epi-illuminator, which inserts into the differential interference-contrast (DIC) slider bay of a commercial microscope, without further additions required. We demonstrate with this device: 1) BSDF-based detection of Malarial parasites inside unstained human erythrocytes; 2) EF imaging with and without dichroic components, including detection of DAPI-stained Leishmania parasite without using excitation or emission filters; 3) RIC of black lipid membranes and other thin films, and 4) DFSR of patterned opaque and transparent surfaces. We believe that our design can expand the functionality of commercial bright field microscopes, provide easy field detection of parasites and be of interest to many users of light microscopy. |
| spellingShingle | Ishmukhametov, R Russell, A Wheeler, R Nord, A Berry, R A simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopes |
| title | A simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopes |
| title_full | A simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopes |
| title_fullStr | A simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopes |
| title_full_unstemmed | A simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopes |
| title_short | A simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopes |
| title_sort | simple low cost device enables four epi illumination techniques on standard light microscopes |
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