title: LED arrays as cost effective and efficient light sources for widefield microscopy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dinu F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Albeanu
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soucy
authors.forename: Tomokazu F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.forename: Venkatesh N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Murthy
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D008027:Light; D008853:Microscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*