Leica TCS SP2 Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope

The Leica TCS SP2 laser scanning confocal microscope is a computer controlled Leica inverted microscope coupled with a laser scanning head and the software used to obtain confocal images of fixed cells and tissues labeled with fluorescent stains or GFP and its derivatives. The Leica confocal has three lasers: an Argon laser for FITC and other green fluorescent labels, a DPSS yellow laser for Rhodamine and red fluorescent labels, and a HeNe laser for far red fluorescent labels. A 405nm laser will be added to this system later this year for DAPI and blue fluorescent labels. The software of the TCS system supports multicolor fluorescent studies, FRET donor bleaching, FRET sensitized emission, FRAP, FLIP, 3D image analysis, time lapse imaging, spectral analysis and separation, and deconvolution. The system can be set up to detect 8 different fluorescent labels in a sample. The microscope has 10x/0.40 NA and 20x/0.70 NA plan apo dry lenses, as well as 40x/1.25 NA oil and 63x/1.40 NA plan apo oil lenses and a 63x/1.20 NA water immersion plan apo lens. The microscope has red, green and blue filter sets and a mercury light source for routine epifluorescence work, and is equipped with DIC optics for brightfield work. The system also has an incubation chamber for live cell work.