Long Life Metal Halide Illumination System

Prior Scientific, a leading supplier of illumination equipment for fluorescence microscopy, has announced the new Lumen 200S metal halide illumination system with shutter control.

The Lumen 200S is a powerful 200 Watt, cost effective alternative to standard 100 Watt mercury and halogen lamp houses traditionally used for fluorescence imaging. The built-in shutter of the Lumen 200S is able to close in 30 ms, allowing very brief exposure periods thereby minimising the risks of photobleaching damage even to sensitive samples. A wide variety of control options are available for the Lumen 200S including RS232, USB, TTL and via the ProScan^® III controller. Light is delivered from the Lumen 200S via a 2m or 3m liquid light guide to eliminate heat transfer to the microscope, to minimizing thermal drift and aid image stability in long term experiments.

The spectral emission of the Lumen 200S is similar to that of a traditional mercury bulb, covering most commonly used fluorophores and their corresponding filter sets. However, the light quality is vastly superior, offering more even and consistent illumination across the spectrum and over time.

Bulb life, at 2000 hours, is approximately ten times longer than that of a conventional mercury bulb, and bulb replacement is easy requiring no special realignment tools.

Overall, the Lumen 200S offers microscopists an excellent, stand-alone source of illumination for most fluorescence applications.