Overview
The Olympus DSU (Disk Scanning Unit) represents a breakthrough in spinning disk confocal technology. Designed by Olympus, the DSU disk contains a pattern of slits that creates a virtual pinhole as the disk spins at 3,000 rpm. Designed to optimize the tradeoff between confocality and light throughput, the DSU uses an arc lamp illumination source for maximum excitation wavelength flexibility at a reasonable cost. The DSU is compatible with both inverted and upright Olympus microscopes, including the motorized IX81 and BX61 making it an ideal imaging system for automated Z-stack, 3-D image analysis. The water-immersion BX61WI and BX51WI electrophysiology microscopes and the entire water immersion objective line are also supported.
Currently DSU system at NCMIR equipped with Hamamatsu EMCCD, Microfire camera, automated XYZ stage, and Neurolucida software that allows you to make mosaic images.
- Image formation is obtained from a CCD camera that allows full frame images to be acquired at up to 15 frames per second. The DSU is excellent for live-cell applications where speed of acquisition and minimal phototoxicity is paramount.
- Disk control is fully motorized allowing a computer to easily engage the disk into the lightpath and select wavelengths via the included filter changer. Five disks are available of varying slit width and spacing allowing the DSU to be optimized for varying objective numerical apertures and specimen thicknesses.
- Fully motorized disk operation and wavelength selection allows computer control and easy switching between confocal and brightfield techniques.
- UV fluorescence excitation capable. DSU optical design is optimized for 350nm excitation allowing excellent performance from near UV to near IR. DSU accepts standard Olympus filter cubes for excellent system flexibility.
- A CCD camera is used for image acquisition allowing full frame, high resolution imaging at up to 15 f.p.s.
- Five disks are available of varying slit width and spacing allowing the user to optimize disk performance to different objective numerical apertures and specimen thicknesses.
Disk Spinning Unit (DSU)
Confocal Scan Method: Disc rotation method Maximum scan speed: Image acquisition less than 33msec/frame
Camera: Hamamatsu EMCCD, unit dimension 8 micron, 1000 x 1000
Excitation wavelength: 350nm - 700nm. Wavelengths of less than 430nm at naked eye observation and DSU observation may reduce the confocal effects.
Fluorescence wavelength at observation: At less than 450nm, use our HQ filter for observation
Observation mode: Exchange between confocal and non-confocal modes can be performed through the software
ND filter for excitation: An ND filter will be inserted automatically at the exchange of confocal and non-confocal modes
Electromagnetic shutter for excitation: Can be controlled through the software
Microscope attachment: Intermediate attachment method (other cameras can be mounted on C-mount intermediate attachment)
Temperature and humidity: 10°C - 35°C, 30 - 80%
Power: Provided through microscope controller
Light Source
Xenon light source
Objective lens
Table 1. List of objective lenses available for Olympus Gemini.
| Name | Magnification | N.A. | WD (mm) | Immersion | Tube length | Cover glass | Misc. Markings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPlanSApo | 20X | 0.75 | 0.6 | air | infinity | 0.17 | FN26.5 UIS2 |
| UPlanSApo | 60X | 1.35 | 0.15 | oil | infinity | 0.17 | FN26.5 UIS2 BFP1 |
Microscope: Olympus BX51WI
At the heart of the BX51 is a research frame with a motorized internal focus drive.
Automated Stage
Automated XYZ stage controlled by a joystick Software
Neurolucida File format
TIF, Tiled TIF, and Zoomify image formats 8/24 bit color