Confocal Microscopes Articles
Learn how to Remove Autofluorescence from your Confocal Images
Autofluorescence can significantly reduce what you can see in a confocal experiment. This article explores causes of autofluorescence as well as different ways to remove it, from simple media fixes to…
Zebrafish Brain - Whole Organ Imaging at High Resolution
Structural information is key when one seeks to understand complex biological systems, and one of the most complex biological structures is the vertebrate central nervous system. To image a complete…
What is a Resonant Scanner?
A resonant scanner is a type of galvanometric mirror scanner that allows fast image acquisition with single-point scanning microscopes (true confocal and multiphoton laser scanning). High acquisition…
What is a Spectral Detector (SP Detector)?
The SP detector from Leica Microsystems denotes a compound detection unit for point scanning microscopes, in particular confocal microscopes. The SP detector splits light into up to 5 spectral bands.…
Improve 3D Cell Biology Workflow with Light Sheet Microscopy
Understanding the sub-cellular mechanisms in carcinogenesis is of crucial importance for cancer treatment. Popular cellular models comprise cancer cells grown as monolayers. But this approach…
Resolved Field Number (RFN)
The field number (FN) for optical microscopes indicates the field of view (FOV). It corresponds to the area in the intermediate image that is observable through the eyepieces. Although, we cannot…
What is a Field-of-View Scanner?
A field-of-view scanner is an assembly of galvanometric scanning mirrors used in single-point confocal microscopes that offer the correct optical recording of large field sizes. The field-of-view…
What is a Tandem Scanner?
A Tandem Scanner is an assembly of two different types of scanning together in one system for true confocal point scanning. The Tandem Scanner consists of a three-mirror scanning base with the…
Which Sensor is the Best for Confocal Imaging?
The Hybrid Photodetectors (HyD) are! Why that is the case is explained in this short Science Lab article.
Primary Beam Splitting Devices for Confocal Microscopes
Current fluorescence microscopy employs incident illumination which requires separation of illumination and emission light. The classical device performing this separation is a color-dependent beam…
Pinhole Effect in Confocal Microscopes
When operating a confocal microscope, or when discussing features and parameters of such a device, we inescapably mention the pinhole and its diameter. This short introductory document is meant to…
Studying Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)
Find out how you can image and study C. elegans roundworm model organisms efficiently with a microscope for developmental biology applications from this article.
From Light to Mind: Sensors and Measuring Techniques in Confocal Microscopy
This article outlines the most important sensors used in confocal microscopy. By confocal microscopy, we mean "True Confocal Scanning", i.e. the technique that illuminates and measures one single…
Video: The White Light Laser – How to Effectively Excite Multiple Fluorophores with a Single Light Source
The Leica White Light Laser produces a continuous spectral output between the wavelengths of 470 and 670 nm. It allows you to select 8 excitation lines from 3 trillion unique combinations for…
Confocal and Light Sheet Imaging
Optical imaging instrumentation can magnify tiny objects, zoom in on distant stars and reveal details that are invisible to the naked eye. But it notoriously suffers from an annoying problem: the…
Acousto Optics in True Confocal Spectral Microscope Systems
Acousto-optical elements have successfully replaced planar filters in many positions. The white confocal, regarded as the fully spectrally tunable confocal microscope, was not possible without this…
Nobel Prize 2013 in Physiology or Medicine for Discoveries of the Machinery Regulating Vesicle Traffic
On October 7th 2013, The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has decided to award The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 jointly to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Südhof…
Handbook of Optical Filters for Fluorescence Microscopy
Fluorescence microscopy and other light-based applications require optical filters that have demanding spectral and physical characteristics. Often, these characteristics are application-specific and…