For microbiologists involved in time-dependent studies of cellular events, such as the role of intracellular Ca++ ions, Tracor Northern Inc. of Middleton, Wis., has developed the Fluoroplex Ill imaging system. Designed to automate the study of biological cells using dual-wavelength excitation fluorescent probes the Fluoroplex III is said to provide precise control over experimental timing, complete image acquisition and storage capabilities, image ratioing for determination of calcium concentration, and calcium concentration plots at specific cell locations.
The Fluoroplex III uses a dual excitation light source, an epi-illuminated microscope, and a suitable intensified CCTV camera. Cells that have been infused with the fluorescent probe are mounted on the microscope stage and are alternately excited by the xenon source. The Fluoroplex m monitors the resulting fluorescence and synchronizes the light source chopping rate with the CCTV camera read-out to ensure that image ratioing does not include images acquired during the transition between...
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