(Click to see larger image) For several years, our customers, impressed by the excellent optics and great price of our SMT1 Dissecting Stereomicroscopes, have been asking for a Fluorescence Dissecting Scope in the same vein of quality and economy.  After lots of research and development, recently presented at the International C. elegans Meeting, the result is the SMT1-FL. Note: for our new ultra-high performance multi-fluorophore dissecting scope, check out the SMT1-FL-QC!

The microscope is available with a few different options for the base/stand and illumination. Fluorescence illumination is always from the top, and we have options that allow for different types of standard white-light illumination of your specimens. For top lighting, select our standard "ergonomic" base and add our dual goose-neck LED illuminator. For transillumination (through the sample), you can use our standard "ergonomic" base with frosted glass plate and built-in fixed LED illumination of ∼30mm in diameter. For an upgraded transillumination option, select our taller, narrower, triangular transillumination base with a large rotatable and translatable mirror. This upgraded base employs a larger frosted mirror and clear glass plate. Moving the diffusion farther from the specimen increases contrast and resolution. The larger mirror can illuminate a sample ∼50mm in diameter, and changing its angle and position allows for optimal contrast to visualize internal structures (for example structures within the C. elegans pharynx and embryos, or within internal organs of Zebrafish, Xenopus, chick and mammalian embryos). Click here to see the triangular base on our non-fluorescence scope with an old-school halogen fiber-optic illuminator. An optional foot pedal allows for the white illumination to be flashed on as needed to orient samples without moving your hands or losing your dark-adapted vision.

The Tritech Research Fluorescence Dissecting Stereo-microscope replaces the old cumbersome mercury arc lamp with a state-of-the-art Light Emitting Diode (LED) illuminator.  This dramatically lowers power consumption, heat, and the cost of accessory optics and power supplies. 


For example: 

Fluorescence Illumination	Mercury Arc Lamp	Tritech LED System
Watts consumed	200	4
Lifespan (hours)	250	10000
Cost per bulb (US$)	$250	$25
Bulb Cost / 10000 hrs	$10,000	$25
Power cost @ $.2 / kW-hr	$500	$1
Total Cost of disposables	$10,500	$26
Cost of Scope + Acces.	$18,000	$6,795
Total Cost	$28,500	$7,021
Advantages	1 lamp for fluorophores	low heat output
		energy efficient
		40x lifespan
		dichroic mirror optional
		1/400 bulb cost
		1/500 power usage
		no UV danger
		no high-voltage danger
		no toxic Hg concerns
		less expensive housing

Our system uses ultra-high-quality multi-coated filters to isolate the excitation and emission wavelenghts from each other by up to 4 orders of magnitude, keeping bleed-through background at a minimum.




The nematode C. elegans expressing the [Punc-25::GFP] transgene (juIs76). unc-25 encodes glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). UNC-25 is expressed specifically in GABAergic neurons and localizes to cell bodies, axonal branches, and synaptic regions in the 19 type D motor-neurons, most notably shown here in the 13 ventral nerve cord neurons.




C. elegans expressing a [Pmyo-2::dsRed] transgene. myo-2 encodes a tissue-specific myosin class II heavy chain. MYO-2 is expressed specifically in the muscles of the pharynx, as shown here by the expression of the Red Fluorescent Protein dsRed.



Larvae of transgenic Drosophila melanogaster expressing GFP in their salivary glands.

"Tritech Research is the first and only company to offer LED-based complete GFP Dissecting Stereo-microscope Systems, saving customers thousands of dollars. Traditional Mercury arc lamp based fluorescent systems cost up to $35000. They have perfected the LED-based GFP microscopy and completely eliminated the mercury arc lamp and associated optics, bringing the price of the microscope to one third of its previous cost!."