PE-800fura

Product Description

True 8-channel illumination

Eight powerful and efficient LEDs offer spectral coverage from 340-635 nm, tailored to all popular calcium indicators, pH indicators, opsins, as well as fluorophores for everyday fluorescence ranging from Fura-2 to Cy5.

Individually controlling all eight channels is achieved via USB, TTL or analogue for easily matching each LED to the selected calcium indicator or fluorophore set.

Unlike lasers, the broader spectral output of LEDs can be refined by the use of optical filters in order to excite a range of dyes, expanding the coverage of the pE-800fura. The ability to customise the wavelength output with both wavelength switching and optical filters means experiments are no longer limited by the light source, even as requirements evolve or new dyes emerge in the future.

Offering high-speed wavelength selection across the spectrum, the pE-800fura presents the first direct LED upgrade to traditional monochromator solutions with all the benefits of LED illumination.

We’ve got you covered: Unlike narrow-band illuminators such as lasers, broader LED wavelengths can be optimised with optical filters to excite a range of fluorophores. Suitable LEDs are shown for each fluorophore below, and we can recommend the best optical filters.

Accelerating calcium analysis

Industry-leading <7 µs TTL triggering is a breakthrough for ratiometric fluorescence applications such as calcium measurements, maximising the accuracy of measuring ratio pairs. For live cell imaging, capturing dynamic events is possible with the highest temporal resolution and even without software, thanks to precise hardware synchronisation via TTL input for each channel and compatibility with the pE-6501-8-FR (USB controlled TTL trigger box).

Even optical filtering is optimised for speed, with the simplicity of fitting single-band excitation filters at each LED channel avoiding the use of moving parts.

When used alongside multi-band filters, for example in a Pinkel configuration, this removes the need for slow and expensive external filter wheels and presents a low-cost approach to high-speed imaging.

Affordable automation with Sequence Runner

Taking speed one step further, Sequence Runner mode combines the versatility of software with the <7 µs speeds of TTL, with minimal requirement for expensive electronic hardware. All you need is a TTL-out. Once an LED and irradiance sequence are specified in software, Sequence Runner provides high-speed synchronised triggering via the global TTL-in of the pE-800fura and a single TTL-out from a camera (or other hardware).

When combined with inline filters, the pE-800fura transforms a manual microscope into an affordable and powerful eight-channel automated system for calcium imaging, ratiometric assays and everyday fluorescence.

Protecting live samples

Photodamage can have a serious impact on live cell data, and the pE-800fura has been carefully designed to overcome this, protecting samples and helping researchers generate the highest quality data.

Industry-leading <7 µs hardware synchronisation protects against photobleaching and phototoxicity by restricting sample exposure to image acquisition. Balancing irradiance to the lowest level possible while still maintaining image quality is another approach for reducing photodamage, and the pE-800fura simplifies this with fine irradiance control from 0-2%, and in 1% steps up to 100%.

Not everyone realises that excitation filters can still leak unwanted light, reducing the signal-to-noise ratio. The ability to select a single LED channel overcomes this, and has the added benefit of allowing a lower concentration of dyes such as Fura-2, which improves cell health and viability due to reduced toxicity – and also reduces reagent cost.

These factors not only improve data quality, but also push the boundaries of time-lapse studies.

Intuitive software control

Software control is achieved through a fast USB 2 and RS-232 connection and the user-friendly LightBridge Graphical User Interface (GUI), where control options include:

• • • • • • • On/off control
            • LED selection
            • Real time irradiance control
            • Sequence Runner
            • Save and load pre-sets
            • pE-800fura start-up settings
            • Analogue settings

Ideal for optogenetics and electrophysiology

Eight individual analogue inputs allow automated high-speed irradiance control from 0-100% for each channel via analogue signal (0-10 V). This is ideal for many fluorescence applications as well as electrophysiology and optogenetics.

High Irradiance, Low Energy

The laser-free pE-800fura Illumination System builds on award-winning CoolLED technology, with stable and reliable performance and ultra-lower power consumption at 127 W. The sustainability benefits go beyond energy efficiency, and by removing the need for toxic mercury, the pE-800fura is a natural choice for cleaner, greener fluorescence microscopy.

Fit to your microscope

The compact system is compatible with the majority of microscope models. Liquid light guide delivery offers flexible placement.

Technical Specifications

Specification

Power requirements
100-240 V a.c. 50/60 Hz, 1.4 A

Power consumption

Maximum power consumption: 127 W

Maximum power consumption when on standby: 6.4 W

Dimensions

pE-800fura Light Source: 173 mm(w) x 247 mm(d) x 174 mm(h) – Weight 3.51 kg
pE-800fura Power Supply: 164 mm(w) x 64 mm(d) x 35 mm(h) – Weight 0.58 kg
pE-UV Universal Collimator: 44 mm(w) x 86 mm(d) x 44 mm(h) – Weight 0.17 kg

Environment & Safety

Adopting LED light sources for fluorescence microscopy helps laboratories become more sustainable, saving energy and reducing the carbon footprint when compared with using mercury lamps. CoolLED’s products have the following benefits:

• Mercury-free and laser-free
• Energy Efficient: 80% less power
• Long lifetime
• No bulb replacements
• Reduced risk of eye damage
• Quiet operation
• No special disposal regulations or issues