In the field of fluorescence microscopy, researchers use a fluorophone – a fluorescent dye – as a way to mark cells, proteins and tissues to make examination under a fluorescent microscope possible. The fluorophone absorbs the energy of the wavelength in a region and re-emits that energy into another wavelength region. Because each fluorophone has a specific wavelength at which it absorbs energy most efficiently the corresponding wavelength offers greater/higher transmission levels.
The microscopes used in this setting include lenses that can be specifically designed by UKA Optics. There is a filter placed within the illumination path of the fluorescence microscope which filters out the wavelengths from the light source until all that remains is the range being examined with the fluorophone dye. The optical density of the filter and lens in the microscope is the measure of how well the image is able to be seen.
UKA Optics provides dozens of optical filters that can fit within the emission and excitation ranges necessary to capture the regions of the specified fluorophones. Because the fluorophones don’t share identical emission and excitation wavelengths the special optical filters can greatly enhance the contrast and signal needed for the imaging required.
What are some of the components necessary for use in the microscope to capture images produced by the fluorescence images? Here are three:
- The emission filter is placed within the imaging path of the fluorescence microscope to filter out the entire excitation range of the fluorophone.
- The excitation filter is placed within the illumination path and filters out all wavelengths except the excitation range of the specimen under view.
- The dichroic filter is placed between the emission and the excitation filters and reflects the excitation signal toward the fluorophone that is being inspected.
UKA Optics is a manufacturer of specialized lenses and optical filters for use in various medical, scientific and manufacturing settings.