•   Home Page
•   Personnel
•   User information
•   Instruments
•   Fees
•   Reservations
•   Courses and seminars
•   Publications
•   Links

 

 

 

Contact information

_______________________

5th floor office, room B501a
Tel: +358 2941 25269

1st floor office, room B117a
Tel: +358 2941 25271

Biomedicum Helsinki
PO Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8)
FI-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland

Technical Information

Objectives Magnification Ojective type NA WD (mm) Ph DIC Immersion 5x EC Plan Neofluar 0.16 18.5     dry 10x EC Plan Neofluar 0.3 5.5   I dry 20x Plan Apochromat 0.8 0.55   II dry 40x Plan Apochromat 1.4 0.13     oil 63x Plan Apochromat 1.4 0.19   III oil 100x Plan NeoFluar 1.3 0.20 Ph3   oil   Filters DAPI (Zeiss 49) D/F/R (Zeiss 40) GFP (Zeiss 38HE) CFP (Zeiss 47HE) YFP (Zeiss 46) mRFP(Zeiss 63HE) Cy5 (Zeiss 50)     Camera Hamamatsu Orca R2 1.3 megapixel monochrome CCD camera Zeiss AxioCam MRc5 5 megapixel color CCD camera     Software There are new Quick Start Guides available for ZEN Blue. They include the "First Steps", multidimensional imaging and import & export guides. Some of the functions and images refer to the ZEN Lite and are different from the full version we have, which has more functionality.

General Information

If you would like to start using the AxioImager, please go to our Fees and user information pages for instructions for new users. When you receive your user training, you will be automatically added to the Axio Imager microscope users mailing list. Please read those e-mails to know what is going on!

If you need fluorescence (mercury) lamp and it is not on, first check in the paper calendar at what time it was turned off - remember that there has to be at least 30 min. gap between switching on and off the mercury lamp.

Mosaic

The system is equiped with a motorized stage. This gives you the possibility of scanning larger image areas and combining the images into one large image.

Motorized stage x-axis inversion
When switching between imaging modes (transmitted light and fluorescence) and cameras you also need to switch the motorized stage x -axis. This is required as the prism separating the signal to the cameras will cause one of them to be mirrored. The camera image is already mirrored by default on the software, but the stage will be moving into the opposite direction.
The state of the inversion switch can be seen when moving the stage from the software; if the x-axis seems reversed, you need to change the setting.
To invert the axis, close the Zen software and open MTB2011 on the desktop. Go to "Motorized stage" and check or uncheck the "x-axis" inverted. Apply and restart Zen.

Zeiss ApoTome

The Zeiss ApoTome uses structured illumination to remove blur arising from out of focus fluorescence signal. For more information on the ApoTome visit the Zeiss Campus webpages on the ApoTome principle and operation.

Changing ApoTome grids
The proper operation of the ApoTome requires that the system is using the correct grid and grid setting. To check the grid or change it the ApoTome has to be pulled out of the microscope. Before it can move the lock (blue switch) has to be released. When the the ApoTome is placed on the table with the top facing the user the grid can be seen in it's slot. It can then be changed using the plastic tweezers. (NB! Do not touch the grid with your fingers or use metallic tweezers.) The grids and the tweezers are kept in the drawer marked "MIU" next to the AxioVert. Once the correct grid is in place the same grid should be chosen in ApoTome settings. The grid L (low magnification) is for 20x, M (medium) is for 40x and H (high) is for 63x.

Ending your imaging session

When you have finished your imaging session you should:

•  Close the electronic fluorescence light shutter

•  Log off from the computer

•  Clean objectives from oil if that was used

On working days (Mo-Fr) leave the equipment on if your reservation ends before 16:00 . If your reservation begins before 16:00 and ends after 16:00 and you are not present at 16:00 , please leave Axiovision software on to show that you will continue your imaging session.

If your session ends after 16:00 on a working day, or you are using Axioplan on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, you should turn off the equipment unless somebody has a reservation after you. You can check that by opening Internet Explorer. The default page of IE shows that day's reservations for Axioplan.

When turning off the equipment, the following tasks should be carried out:

•  Turn off the fluorescence light (by switching off the power supply)

• Do not disconnect the camera. The new camera gets its power from the firewire connection to the computer and will turn off when the computer is turned off.

•  Turn off the microscope and computer

•  Cover the microscope (not the lamp housing; see the image below). NEVER cover the lamp housing with the dust cover, or let the cover to touch lamp housing as it is very hot even long after it has been switched off.

•  Write down the time in the paper calendar. This is important because once the mercury lamp is switched off, one needs to wait for 30 min before turning it on again.

Page updated 21.10.2016

Mail to Webmaster