Applications

Confocal and Multiphoton microscopy

One major application is fluorescence microscopy and specifically confocal and Multiphoton microscopy. The success of our optical and systems designs is reflected in the success of Ex Bio-Rad confocal and multiphoton laser scanning microscope systems, namely Radiance 2100, Radiance 2100 Rainbow, Radiance 2100MP, Direct Detection System and FLIM module.

For further details refer to CZ Cellscience link in the next page.

Laser microdissection

This optical instrument uses a CCD camera and an IR laser which are attached to a microscope sideport to image and to dissect a designated region of a biological sample . The instrument can be adapted to different makes of microscope, namely Zeiss, Nikon and Olympus.

On-line monitoring of biological downstream processes

This application was based on the development of a linear CCD based spectrophotometer to record spectral absorption signatures of biological samples, identify the constituents and measure concentrations. The prototype instrument incorporated a deconvolution program to resolve overlapping spectral peaks and to predict the constituent concentrations. A flow injection system for sample handling was integrated with the spectrophotometer and the prototype was tested in a pilot plant at University College London, UK.

Reflection Polariscope

An optical instrument was developed for full field stress analysis of mechanical parts and assemblies. It was based on an optical design which images a photoelastic coating of a test sample on four CCD cameras simultaneously. Each CCD was set to capture a phase-stepped image of the same sample using a fixed polariser in front of it. The images are processed to produce a full field stress distribution image of the test sample.