Leica MZ16 F user manual Operation, Description Fluorescence technology, Functional principle

4. Operation 5. Functions

4.1 Description

4.1.1 Fluorescence technology

Fluorescent substances light up (fluoresce) when irradiated with short-wave excitation light. Fluo- rescence technology makes use of this property by coloring or marking certain object structures and details that do not have their own fluores- cence with a fluorescent dye. One such dye is green fluorescent protein (GFP), which is used in molecular biology.

4.1.2 Functional principle

With the Leica MZ16 F fluorescence stereomicro- scope, entire fluorescent specimens can be examined three-dimensionally and unprepared, manipulated, sorted and documented. With a fully apochromatic optics system, manual 16:1 zoom and built-in double iris aperture, the Leica MZ16 F is the high-performance stereomicroscope for fluorescence applications. The patented, separate TripleBeam® light path* for fluorescence illumina- tion and the patented FLUOIII® filter system* pro- vide highest-quality fluorescence images. The very bright high-pressure mercury burner and specially selected filter sets enable you to distinguish the finest structures and enhance the quantity of infor- mation for incident light fluorescence.

The FLUOIII® filter system consists of a rapid filter changer for barrier and excitation filters and a fil- ter insert for a filter holder with your choice of fil- ter. A total of four filter sets can be used in the rapid filter changer. The filter sets are labeled (see table 22). An empty filter cartridge is also available for individual filter combinations. Each filter set includes two barrier filters to the visual beam paths and an excitation filter to the illumination beam path.

5.1Stereomicroscope settings and adjustments

We recommend that you first familiarize yourself with the controls of the Leica MZ16 F in transmitted light without the presence of fluores- cence illumination.

After switching on the high-pressure mercury lamp, you need to adjust the burner immediately see User Manual M2-216-1).

Familiarize yourself with the functional elements of the Leica MZ16 F such as the binocular tube, eyepieces, zoom magnification changer, focusing drive, stands etc. by referring to User Manual

M2-105-0 for Leica M stereomicroscopes. This manual describes all settings of the stereomicro- scope in detail. The following describes only the functions that are specific to the Leica MZ16 F with fluorescence system.

*Patented in EP (CH, DE, FR, GB), other patents applied for.

18 Leica MZ16 F – Operation