Biological Microscopes

Better S/N ratio delivers brighter, higher-contrast images in fluorescence observation.

The ideal microscope allows bright, high contrast fluorescence observation from the minimum amount of excitation light in order to minimize cell damage or fluorescence fading. However, to detect a weak fluorescence signal (S) efficiently, all other light noise (N) must be reduced. The higher this S/N ratio, the brighter and clearer the observation image from weak excitation light.

Measures to enhance the signal (S) Fluorescence objectives with high N.A. Filters matched to the wavelength characteristics of individual fluorochromes Measures to reduce noise (N) Objectives without autofluorescence No crossover from using combined excitation and emission filters Optical system that prevents entry of stray light Ring slit illumination to reduce autofluorescence

High S/N ratio objective with reduced autofluorescence

Olympus offers a range of other high numerical aperture objectives whose reduced autofluorescence and specially selected glass contribute to improved fluorescence S/N ratios.
Especially the PLAPON60XO has outstanding N.A., which is 1.42.

High-performance fluorescence mirror units for fluorescent proteins

Olympus has developed outstanding filter coating technology, which gives the high efficient transmission and the reflection as well as sharp cut off characteristics. This newly developed coating results in optimized mirror units for the various fluorochromes included ECFP/EGFP/EYFP/DsRed.

Ring slit illumination unit to reduce noise / IX2-RFRS

The ring slit illumination IX2-RFRS makes the ring shape illumination on the objective to allow excitation light to pass through the objectives outer portion to not to excite the objective auto-fluorescence generated at the center of an objectives
* Patent pending.

Improved performance of interference membrane-type fluorescence mirror unit

The S/N ratio of certain interference type fluorescence mirror units is now improved, thanks to the application of new coating technology to narrow the gap between excitation (Ex) and emission (Em). The line-up has been extended for wide variety of choice.

Glass reflector captures fluorescence of multiple color dyes

A multi-band dichromatic mirror is normally used to obtain multicolor images of multiple stained fluorescent samples by using filter wheels on the excitation and emission sides. However, this kind of mirror encounters the problem that each fluorescence image gets darker as the number of color dyes increase, because the transmission spectrum becomes narrower and the transmittance falls to lower than 90% at best. Olympus has therefore developed the world's first glass reflector that is not wavelength-dependent, offering a high transmittance of 94% across a wide wavelength range from 430nm to 700nm. Used in combination with the filter wheels on the excitation and emission sides, a wider variety of color dyes can be used and fluorescence images are captured more efficiently.
*Special order basis product

Stray light reducing function equipped on all mirror units

The slight transmission of stray light when excitation light is reflected in the dichromatic mirror causes a rise in the level of noise. Olympus mirror units absorb more than 99% of this stray light through their light absorber.

High performance mirror units

The sharp reactions of the dichromatic mirror in the new mirror unit minimize crossover with the excitation filter and reduce excitation light leakage to less than a tenth of our conventional models. Combined with the light absorbing mechanism (which absorbs more than 99% of stray light), a high S/N ratio is achieved without the need for any special mechanism to prevent excitation light leakage.