OVERVIEW
Phase Contrast Microscopes .com is a leading microscope supplier dedicated to providing each customer with quality Phase Contrast Microscopes (PCM) and exceptional online client support. We supply a comprehensive range of microscopes, USB computer connected microscope cameras, and accessories throughout the North Atlantic, Europe, Americas and Asia from a variety of major microscope and optical instrument manufacturers. In addition to the supply of new phase contrast microscope systems, we also offer microscope repair and service for the microscopy equipment we sell.
ABOUT PHASE CONTRAST MICROSCOPY
Regular optical microscopes are ineffective for viewing the detail in living specimens, especially if the biological specimens are transparent—the detail cannot be seen under a microscope unless the tissue is stained, which may often kill the tissue or alter the organism’s responses, behavior and integrity. And nearly all living biological specimens are virtually transparent when observed under brightfield illumination of most compound light microscope models. The problem is that in a microscope image, there are variations in the phase of light that the eye cannot detect; the detail is there but we simply cannot distinguish the nuances. The effects due to changes in the optical path can, however, be transformed into changes in light intensity, which the eye can detect. This is the basis for the compound phase contrast microscope. The idea behind this can be more expressed by pointing out its resemblance to two sheets of translucent wax-paper or acetate sheet with identical almost-transparent images drawn on each sheet, then composited or overlaid on top of each other at a slightly skewed position. The image on the second acetate multiplies or adds to the base color or brightness/darkness of the one below it in points where both images intersect or blend while preserving the highlights and shadows of the base color or underlying image in points where the two images don’t overlap, thus increasing overall contrast of the resulting image.
To accomplish this transformation, our phase contrast microscope design utilizes wave-motion interference technology by means of a substage condenser phase-contrast diaphragm that funnels light into a cone focused on the specimen, and a diffraction plate (or phase plate) inserted between the two components of the objective lens (the microscope lens that forms an image of an object). Direct light passes through the groove in the plate, and diffracted light passes outside the groove in the plate. Manipulation of the direct and diffracted light in the phase contrast microscope creates an optical-path difference that results in greater light intensity (the two beams interfere constructively: the two overlapping or intersecting light waves of the same frequency are in phase—that is, where the crests and troughs of the two waves coincide. In this case, the two light waves reinforce each other and combine to form a wave that has an amplitude equal to the sum of the individual amplitudes of the original waves) revealing detail indiscernible with a conventional compound light microscope but viewable with the phase contrast microscope.
The phase-contrast condenser engineering of our phase contrast microscope models employ overlapping metal plates and within the objective lens is a ring-shaped device called a phase annulus ring that reduces the intensity of the light and introduces a phase shift of a quarter of a wavelength and allows for almost infinite adjustments in filtering light intensity. This adjustable illumination causes minute variations of refractive index in a transparent specimen to become visible in our phase contrast microscope.
As a result, this feature allows the microscopist to adjust the visibility and contrast of the specimen with precision-control. It is also equipped with an adjustable condenser movement knob to further optimize the intensity and angle of light entering the microscope objective front lens. Our series of phase-contrast microscopy models allow the entire diaphragm to be rotatable around the axis of the microscope so that oblique light could be directed toward the specimen from any azimuth to achieve the best desired effect for any given specimen. In addition, a specially-designed phase contrast telescope is used to view the back aperture plane in the phase contrast microscope objective and align the phase contrast diaphragm with the phase annulus cone of light. It is imperative here that the correct phase contrast objective be used with the matching size phase annulus ring in the phase contrast condenser.
Also, our phase contrast microscopes utilize the state-of-the art Premium Optics optical system, which yields high-quality, sharp, crisp, and clear images previously attainable only in expensive research microscopy instruments. It also has a trinocular photography port for full photographic and video application that can also be utilized as a port for connection of a USB microscope camera for digital video microscopy. A computer connected USB microscope camera can be utilized for capturing still and live-motion microscopic images with your computer or laptop.
Phase-contrast microscopy (PCM) greatly expanded microbiology and molecular biology by making possible the detailed examination of nearly see-through/invisible biological and medical specimens by exploiting the maximum potential of the transparent specimen’s bending of light and how these minor diffractions could be resolved to even render better resulting microscopic images than non-transparent samples. Our phase contrast microscopes are continuously redesigned and developed, making the most of revolutionary optical technologies available, objective lens coatings, and mechanical design to provide excellent results for improving contrast in unstained biological specimens without serious loss in resolution, and are currently utilized to examine dynamic events in living cells (live-intercellular imaging), clinical and medical diagnosis of health conditions, living tissue culture viewing, microbiological research, dog breeding, horse breeding, animal breeding, infertility treatments, analysis of spermatozoa in semen, sperm cell motility, sperm count, sperm morphology, mold and mildew detection and abatement, mold spore count, mold spore identification, detection of Stachybotrys chartarum (toxic black mold, stack mold), aspergillus mold identification, environmental air pollution monitoring, viewing of human squamous cheek cells, dust mite control, asbestos testing, and even in testing basic theories in atomic and polymer physics.
You can start your plan towards achieving your phase contrast microscopy needs in a simple, hassle-free, convenient way without leaving the comfort of your seat. Our skilled biologists and optical engineers are available today to entertain your questions and in selecting the best phase contrast microscope and the proper accessories for it that would accommodate your specific requirements. Please call our hotline today. |
still digital images! No video capture device needed, simply
plug into the computer's USB port!
