Multiphoton adaptation of a commercial low-cost confocal microscope for live tissue imaging

J Biomed Opt. 2009 May-Jun;14(3):034048. doi: 10.1117/1.3139850.

Abstract

The Nikon C1 confocal laser scanning microscope is a relatively inexpensive and user-friendly instrument. We describe a straightforward method to convert the C1 for multiphoton microscopy utilizing direct coupling of a femtosecond near-infrared laser into the scan head and fiber optic transmission of emission light to the three-channel detector box. Our adapted system can be rapidly switched between confocal and multiphoton mode, requires no modification to the original system, and uses only a few custom-made parts. The entire system, including scan mirrors and detector box, remain under the control of the user-friendly Nikon EZ-C1 software without modification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Equipment Design
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Confocal / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / methods
  • Neurons
  • Optical Fibers
  • Pollen / ultrastructure
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / metabolism
  • Rhodopsin / biosynthesis
  • Rhodopsin / chemistry
  • Rhodopsin / genetics

Substances

  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Rhodopsin