With the fluorescent lifetime imaging (FLIM) technique, the rate of decay of fluorescence is measured, rather than the intensity of fluorescent light. There are several methods of pulsed illumination that can be used to measure fluorescence decay, but the most common method is time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC).
This system is often used to look inside cells and tissues and has found particular use in the analysis of tumors and neurons. The key components of the FLIM with TCSPC system include a laser that excites the photon and a TCSPC unit that measures the rate of decay of that photon and records the measurement. This is done multiple times and the average results are calculated then reconstructed and displayed on a screen.
The benefits of FLIM include the fact that it is not concentration sensitive, the short measurement times, and a good signal-to-noise ratio, among other things. However, because light is used, the size of what can be imaged is diffraction limited. Fluorescence lifetime spectrometers are used to analyze organic compounds in medical and chemistry labs.
|  |  |
| Company | Edinburgh Instruments Ltd | Edinburgh Instruments Ltd |
| Item | LifeSpec-II Dedicated Lifetime Spectrometer | Mini-tau Fluorescence Spectrometer |
| Citations | | |
| Catalog Number | LifeSpec-II | Mini-tau |
| Price | | |
| Description | The LifeSpec-II is a compact, high performance computer controlled instrument for the acquisition and analysis of time resolved fluorescence, based on the technique of Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC).
The instrument has been designed for operation with modern picosecond and The LifeSpec-II is a compact, high performance computer controlled instrument for the acquisition and analysis of time resolved fluorescence, based on the technique of Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC).
The instrument has been designed for operation with modern picosecond and femtosecond lasers, such our EPLs (Picosecond Pulsed Diode Lasers), EPLEDs (Picosecond Pulsed LEDs), Titanium Sapphire lasers and supercontinuum sources. These sources enable measurements of fluorescence lifetimes down to tens of picoseconds across the UV-Visibile-NIR spectral regions up to 1700nm.
The LifeSpec-II has the unique feature of having an integrated emission monochromator with zero temporal dispersion. As such, very short fluorescence lifetimes can be recovered without an error introduced by the propagation of light on wavelength dispersive elements, such as the monochromator gratings.
The integrated system features a large sample compartment, with room for many sample holder options, including multi-position sample holders, cryostats, X-Y position sample holders, etc.
The instrument further comprises of computer controlled attenuation of incident light from the laser, optional polarisers, two computer selectable laser input ports and two computer controlled detector exit ports.
A detector shutter is both interlocked to the sample chamber for protection against excessive ambient light, and is also linked to the detector current to protect against overexposure by the laser.
The LifeSpec-II comes in two versions. The first version contains one set of gratings for the operation in the spectral range 200nm to 1000nm. The second version contains two sets of gratings for the operation in the spectral range 200nm to 1700nm.... Read More | The Mini-tau is an ultra-compact, low cost, filter-based fluorescence lifetime spectrometer for lifetimes ranging from 25 ps to 50 µs*. Using the Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) technique, the Mini-tau is supplied with our F980 software and a USB connected TCC2 electronics module to The Mini-tau is an ultra-compact, low cost, filter-based fluorescence lifetime spectrometer for lifetimes ranging from 25 ps to 50 µs*. Using the Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) technique, the Mini-tau is supplied with our F980 software and a USB connected TCC2 electronics module to enable fast, reliable, and accurate measurement and data analysis.... Read More |
| Type | Time domain (TD) | Lifetime Spectrometer |
| Wavelength Range | 200 to 1700 nm | All picosecond pulsed diode lasers (EPL Series, HPL Series) and pulsed LEDs (EPLED Series) can be used in TCSPC (375 nm through to 980 nm). |
| Resolution | Inquire | Inquire |
| Scanning Speed | Inquire | Inquire |
| Optical System | Integrated Emission Monochromator | Inquire |
| Get Quote | | |