 | This is performed with an Applied Precision Deltavision deconvolution fluorescence wide-field inverted microscope with a mercury lamp. Deconvolution microscopy computationally reduces out-of-focus light. A mercury arc lamp and appropriate filters are available for imaging dyes in the uv, green, red or infrared. This approach to 3D microscopy is especially useful for time-lapse 3D imaging of living specimens because light levels are typically much lower than by confocal microscopy. This system can be used primarily for deconvolution, but also for low-light imaging of live specimens in multiple channels. An automatically controlled stage allows imaging of several fields of view in the same time-lapse sequence. Data collection is controlled by SoftWoRx software installed on a UNIX-based Silicon Graphics O2 workstation. Images are collected by a sensitive 12-bit camera (Photometrics). Images obtained on other imaging systems may be deconvolved by the SoftWoRx program. Deconvolved images may be exported to Adobe Photoshop, Scion Image and other programs accepting TIFF files. The program also provides sophisticated methods for image processing, including diverse types of measurement and 3D volume rendering. |