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Optics - "Let there be light" - The fastest & brightest UV wavelength switcher - HWES
Calcium imaging is a key method to provide insights into cellular function in modern biology. The development of fluorescent dyes has enabled stunning new insight into the way cells perform their essential function and often calcium is a key regulatory element. Fertilization, growth, contraction, excretion, division, death. Nearly all cellular processes involve calcium, the king of messengers. In order to quantify calcium dual wavelength dyes most notably fura-2 are employed to measure it. SIH makes the fastest wavelength switcher (up to 6.6 kHz single mode, 3.3 kHz ration mode) available today. The speed does not compromise the brightness of the system to deliver what you need: light. The HSWES forms the basis for the fastest universal photometry system on the market. The HSPI system is used in our own equipment and is available as a stand alone or can be coupled to any fluorescent microscope. In single wavelength mode the system provides a 6.6 kHz signal with excitation 'chopper' function for longer, more stable recordings of single wavelength dyes.
To match the speed of the wavelength changer we also developed a very fast photometer with a unique monitor function. The monitor function continuously measures the normal occurring instabilities and fluctuations in the UV light source (Hg, Xe, or LED sources) and corrects the fluorescence signal from the preparation in real time for these instabilities. The result is very stable signals, you can count on these being from the preparation rather than optical and technical artifacts from the measurement system. The two units are connected through a 'signal sorter' that synchronizes the wavelength changer with the photometry and generates an open voltage signal that can be acquired by an DAQ system including our own DAS/MUSCLEDATA package.
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