LED arrays as cost effective and efficient light sources for widefield microscopy.
New developments in fluorophores as well as in detection methods have fueled the rapid growth of optical imaging in the life sciences. Commercial widefield microscopes generally use arc lamps, excitation/emission filters and shutters for fluorescence imaging. These components can be expensive, difficult to maintain and preclude stable illumination. Here, we describe methods to construct inexpensive and easy-to-use light sources for optical microscopy using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). We also provide examples of its applicability to biological fluorescence imaging.
Albeanu
Dinu F
DF
Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Soucy
Edward
E
Sato
Tomokazu F
TF
Meister
Markus
M
Murthy
Venkatesh N
VN
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D008027:Light; D008853:Microscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*