Cerna® Microscope with Six-Position Epi-Illuminator Module

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Side View of Cerna Microscope Kit 2
(Optical Table Not Included)

Features

• Six-Position Epi-Illuminator Module Accepts Solis^® High-Powered LEDs, Chrolis™ High-Powered LED Sources, or Ø3 mm Liquid Light Guides
• Large and Open Working Space Underneath the Objective Ideal for Sample Apparatuses, Recording Chambers, and Micromanipulators
• Accepts C-Mount Cameras from Thorlabs and Most Major Manufacturers
• Motorized Focus Control of Objective
• Trinoculars with 10X Eyepieces
• Modular Design Allows User to Modify the Microscope's Optical Path

This Cerna^® microscope configuration provides an optical path that is ideal for experiments requiring epi-illumination or reflected-light imaging. The epi-illuminator module accepts up to six fluorescent filter sets, ideal for targeting spectrally separated fluorophores, while the microscope body has ample space beneath the objective for adding Thorlabs' sample stages, micromanipulators, and other accessories needed for fluorescence imaging of in vivo or in vitro samples. A motorized objective holder provides 1" of vertical focusing adjustment for the objective.

Trinoculars with a camera port support real-time viewing of the sample directly through the eyepieces. The C-mount-threaded camera port is compatible with most industry-standard cameras, which can be used to view the sample on a computer screen in real time or to capture images.

Unlike competing microscopes with similar capabilities, the Cerna platform's modularity lets the user quickly install and remove the microscope modules as needed for each experiment, providing a high degree of access and control. The open space beneath the objective provides ample room for in vivo imaging. Alternatively, in vitro samples can be studied by positioning sample stages below the objective using fixed arms that can be attached directly to the microscope or rigid stands. A variety of mounting surfaces are offered, allowing custom components to be integrated with your experiment.

To address a wide range of experimental parameters, Thorlabs offers seven Cerna microscope configurations, which are summarized in the table below. In addition, we can work with you to configure a microscope that meets your unique needs. To contact our team, please e-mail ImagingSales@thorlabs.com. We also offer Cerna components individually for custom modifications.

Cerna^® Microscope Kit 2

This Cerna microscope kit was designed from our line of modular components to provide several convenient features for imaging, highlighted below. We also offer a selection of microscope objectives, cameras, and illumination modules that can be used to complement this microscope configuration and customize it to your experiment. Details can be found on the Microscope Add-Ons tab. The Kit Components tab details the components used in this microscope configuration, as well as a link to each component's webpage, where additional information (such as mechanical drawings) is available. 

Epi-Illumination

Features

• Six-Position Epi-Illuminator Module (Filter Sets Sold Separately)
• Compatible Light Sources
  • Solis^® High-Power LEDs (Requires SM2A56 Adapter)
  • Chrolis™ High-Power LED Sources or Other Sources that Use Ø3 mm Liquid Light Guides (Requires LLG3A6 Adapter)

This microscope is able to target multiple fluorophores through the use of a six-position epi-illuminator module that couples light emitted by the illumination source into the imaging path, through the objective, and onto the sample. The epi-fluorescence generated by the sample passes through the module to the eyepieces and camera. A D3T female dovetail on the rear of the microscope accepts a wide range of white-light lamps. The illumination path includes AR-coated conditioning optics, a field stop diaphragm, and a shutter.

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This Cerna^® microscope kit features an epi-illuminator module with a 6-position filter turret. The filter position is labeled on the knurled wheel that rotates the turret.

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The rotating turret accommodates up to six filter sets (not included).

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The back of the epi-illuminator module has a female D3T dovetail that can be adapted to accept liquid light guides and LEDs.

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The microscope body is based on a 95 mm optical rail.

Microscope Body

Features

• Large Working Volume: Optical Path is 7.74" (196.6 mm) Away from Edge of Rail
• Linear Dovetail Surface Allows Modules to be Added and Removed
• 350 mm Body Height to Accommodate Sample Stages Mounted on Rigid Stands or Fixed Arms
• Motorized Objective Focusing Module with 1" Travel
• Mechanically Compatible with Thorlabs' 95 mm Rail Platforms

The backbone of this microscope is the 350 mm tall microscope body based on Thorlabs' 95 mm Precision Optical Rails, providing stable long-term support and excellent vibrational damping. Its linear dovetail mounting surface allows modules to be removed when they are not needed, freeing additional workspace and opening the door to user customization. For alternate rail heights, please see the full web presentation.

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This microscope kit includes trinoculars with a camera port for widefield viewing.

Widefield Viewing

Features

• Fixed Magnification Camera Port with C-Mount Accepts Most Industry-Standard Cameras
• Trinoculars with 10X Eyepiece Magnification and Adjustable Interpupil Distance

Widefield viewing is provided by trinoculars and a camera tube. The eyepieces feature an adjustable interpupil distance and rotate individually to allow the focus to be coarsely adjusted for each eye.

The included camera tube contains all of the optics needed to image the light from the objective onto a camera sensor. External C-mount (1.000-32") threads on the top of the camera tube accept Thorlabs' scientific cameras, as well as cameras from most major manufacturers. For additional viewing port and camera tube options, please see the full web presentation.

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This Cerna microscope kit has a single objective holder (objective not included).

Objective Holder

Features

• Threaded for M32 x 0.75 Objectives
• Included Adapters:
  • M25 x 0.75 Internal Threads
  • RMS Internal Threads

The Single-Objective Nosepiece connects to the motorized mounting arm on the microscope body via six M4 counterbores to provide 1" of motorized vertical translation of the objective. The nosepiece features an M32 x 0.75 threaded port for mounting objectives and four 4-40 through taps for 60 mm cage system compatibility. Two objective thread adapters are also included to provide compatibility with other common objective threads: M25 x 0.75 and RMS. To mount multiple objectives, please see the full web presentation for other mounting options. Microscope objectives are available for purchase separately from Thorlabs, and we can also order other objectives from either Nikon or Olympus upon request. Keep in mind that the total system magnification will depend upon the objective chosen; see the Objective, Scan, and Tube Lens Tutorial for details.

This kit configuration is constructed from our modular Cerna^® components. See the comprehensive list below for each included item.

Item #	Description	Photo (Click to Enlarge)
Microscope Body
CEA1350	Cerna Microscope Body with Epi-Illumination Arm, 350 mm Rail Height
Widefield Viewing
LAURE1	Trinoculars with Eyepieces
TC1X	1X Camera Tube with C-Mount
Epi-Illumination
CSE2100	Epi-Illuminator Module for Six Filter Sets
Objective Holder
CSN100	Single-Objective Nosepiece
PLSZ	Motorized Module with 1" Travel, 95 mm Dovetail
PLSZ1	Angle Bracket for Edge-Mounted Arms
MCMK3	3-Knob USB HID Joystick
MCM301	Three-Channel Controller for Motorized Rigid Stands and PLS Series Stage
Objective Threading Adapters
M32M25S	External M32 x 0.75 Threads and Internal M25 x 0.75 Threads
M32RMSS	External M32 x 0.75 Threads and Internal RMS Threads

Application-Optimized Cerna Microscopes

Developed in collaboration with our colleagues in the field, the Cerna microscopy platform is uniquely modular and flexible, making it adaptable to a wide range of demanding experimental requirements. If you would like to work with our application specialists, engineers, and sales team to design your own microscope, please email ImagingSales@thorlabs.com.

Selected Accessories

In order to image with this microscope, it is necessary to add a scientific camera, an epi-illumination source, filter sets, objectives, and sample holders. It is often possible to improve the quality of your experimental data by carefully selecting accessories that complement your specific experiment. To that end, we have ensured that Cerna^® microscopes are compatible with a wide range of accessories. The information below compares the Cerna-compatible components that are manufactured or sold by Thorlabs. We have also indicated when it is possible to use equipment designed by other manufacturers.

Content

• Scientific Cameras for Widefield Viewing
• Illumination Sources for Epi-Illumination
• Filter Sets for Epi-Fluorescence
• Objectives
• Sample Holders

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The camera port provides a fixed magnification for light from the sample.

Scientific Cameras for Widefield Viewing

• Visualize the Field of View at a Computer
• Any C-Mount Camera is Compatible with a Cerna Microscope

Thorlabs offers scientific cameras optimized for a range of imaging needs. Cameras allow the field of view to be displayed on a computer screen and saved for later reference. Viewing your sample from a computer also enables remote sample positioning using our motion control accessories (see below), allowing samples to be moved in sensitive setups without introducing additional vibrations from your hands.

This Cerna microscope configuration includes a camera tube, which provides a fixed magnification at the image plane.

Any camera with C-Mount (1.000"-32) threading is compatible with this microscope. We recommend the CS2100M-USB Quantalux^® Scientific sCMOS Camera; see the table below for more details. For other options, please see our complete range of scientific cameras.

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Click for Raw Data

CS2100M-USB Specifications
Product Photo (Click to Enlarge)
Sensor Type	Monochrome sCMOS
Effective Number of Pixels (Horizontal x Vertical)	1920 x 1080
Imaging Area (Horizontal x Vertical)	9.6768 mm x 5.4432 mm
Pixel Size	5.04 µm x 5.04 µm
Optical Format	2/3" (11 mm Diagonal)
Max Frame Rate	50 fps (Full Sensor)
Sensor Shutter Type	Rolling
Peak Quantum Efficiency	61% at 600 nm
PC Interface	USB 3.0
Housing Dimensions	2.77" x 2.38" x 1.88" (70.4 mm x 60.3 mm x 47.6 mm)

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Secure a Liquid Light Guide to the Six-Position Epi-Illuminator Module with a D3T Dovetail-to-LLG Adapter

Illumination Sources for Epi-Illumination

• White Light Sources Illuminate the Field of View Through the Objective
• Available Options Include Solis^® LEDs, Chrolis™ LED Sources, or Other Sources Coupled through Ø3 mm Liquid Light Guide
• Light is Tuned by Filter Sets for Specific Fluorophores (See Below)

The six-position epi-illuminator module that is included with this Cerna microscope kit requires a broadband white light source that emits across the visible region of the spectrum. Broadband emission makes it possible for the same microscope to stimulate fluorophores that have absorption wavelengths that are spectrally separated. Several filter sets aimed at common fluorophores are available below.

The Solis LED light sources have multiple wavelength emitting options, including broad sprectrum emission throughout the visible range. These LEDs are designed to be controlled by the DC20 or DC2200 drivers. The Solis LED is outfitted with collimating optics and can be mounted directly to the back of the epi-illuminator module using the SM2A56 dovetail adapter.

The Chrolis LED sources are user-configurable light engines that efficiently combine the output of six LEDs into a single liquid light guide (LLG). They are ideal for fluorescence imaging that requires up to six wavelengths of light. These sources are available in two pre-set configurations, as well as custom configurations; please see the full web presentation for more details. The Chrolis sources are compatible with the epi-illuminator module via our LLG3A6 adapter, which connects and collimates any Ø3 mm LLG to a female D3T dovetail; see image to the upper right.

Filter Transmission Spectraa
Item #	Target Fluorophore	Transmission Graph (Click for Plot)
MDF-BFP	BFP (Blue Fluorescent Protein)
MDF-GFP2	Alexa Fluor® 488
MDF-MCHAb	mCherry
MDF-MCHCb	mCherry
MDF-TOM	tdTomato

• Please see the full web presentation for a complete listing of fluorescence filter sets offered.
• While both filter sets target mCherry, the -MCHC excitation filter features a broader transmission band than the excitation filter in the -MCHC filter set.

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Thorlabs' MDF-GFP2 Filter Set

Filter Sets for Epi-Fluorescence

• Tune Epi-Illumination Source for the Excitation and Detection of Specific Fluorophores
• Up to Six Filter Sets can be Installed Simultaneously
• Thorlabs' Fluorescent Filter Sets Available
• Utilize Fluorescence Filters from Other Major Manufacturers

The epi-illumination module included with this microscope contains a turret that can hold up to six filter sets. The turret can be rotated by hand to switch between the filter sets. To learn more about the features of the CSE2100 Epi-Illuminator Module included with this microscope, please see its full web presentation.

The filter sets we offer, which consist of an excitation filter, an emission filter, and a dichroic mirror, come in the industry-standard sizes. For excitation and emission filters, the standard dimensions are Ø25 mm, and for dichroic mirrors, the standard dimensions are 25 mm x 36 mm. This allows Cerna microscopes to be compatible with filters from all major manufacturers.

Several popular filter sets are listed with their target fluorophores in the table to the right. Please see the full web presentation for the entire line of Thorlabs' filter sets.

Objectives

• Cerna Microscope Kit 2 Directly Accepts Objectives with M32 x 0.75 Threads
• Includes Thread Adapters for Compatibility with Objectives from Major Manufacturers
  • M25 x 0.75-Threaded Objectives (Nikon)
  • RMS-Threaded Objectives (Olympus)

The nosepiece included in this microscope kit has one M32 x 0.75-threaded bore for mounting objectives. The M32 x 0.75 thread standard is used by newer widefield microscope objectives and offers larger back apertures than previous standards. M25 x 0.75- and RMS-threaded adapters are included for compatiblity with most objectives from Olympus and Nikon. Shown below are selected widefield Nikon objectives that are commonly used with this microscope kit. They can be mounted in the microscope’s CSN100 Single-Objective Holder using the M32M25S Brass Microscope Adapter (both included in this configuration). We also offer other objectives and can provide objectives outside our catalog upon request.

Item #	N4X-PF	N10X-PF	N20X-PF	N40X-PF	N60X-PF
Photo (Click to Enlarge)
Magnification	4X	10X	20X	40X	60X
Numerical Aperture (NA)	0.13	0.3	0.50	0.75	0.85
Working Distance (WD)	17.2 mm	16 mm	2.1 mm	0.66 mm	0.31 - 0.4 mm
Threading	M25 x 0.75

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Slide Holder in a Cerna^® Microscope

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MLS203-1 Stage with MLS203P2 Slide Holder on CSA1000 Fixed Arm

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MP15M Rigid Stand with
MLS203P2 Slide/Petri Dish Holder

Sample Stages and Holders

• Rigid Stands to Hold Samples Underneath and Around the Objectives
  
  • Designed for Slides, Petri Dishes, Well Plates, Recording Chambers, Micromanipulators, and Custom Inserts
  • Translation Stages with 1" of X and Y Travel Available
• Fixed Arms Allow Fast XY Stage, Lens Tubes, and/or Cage Systems to be Placed Directly Into the Optical Path
  • CSA1000: For Our MLS203-1 Fast XY Scanning Stage
  • CSA1001: For Ø1" Lens Tubes and 30 mm Cage Systems
  • CSA1002: For Ø2" Lens Tubes and 60 mm Cage Systems

Thorlabs offers highly configurable solutions for mounting your sample beneath the objective of a Cerna Microscope. Rigid stands are available with multiple platform styles that can accept slides, petri dishes, recording chambers, micromanipulators, and custom inserts. The included collar makes them lockable at a height and angle chosen by the user. We also manufacture translation stages for these rigid stands that provide motorized horizontal translation of the sample.

Our fixed arms enable the sample stage to be attached directly to the microscope body via a dovetail that extends the full height of the microscope body, allowing the arms to be positioned anywhere along the body height. For a pre-configured sample holder solution, use the CSA1000 fixed arm with the MLS203-1 Fast XY Scanning Stage. This stage is compatible with our MZS500-E Piezo-Driven Insert, which adds high-resolution Z-axis adjustments. Alternatively, the CSA1001 and CSA1002 rigid arms are compatible with Thorlabs' wide selection of optomechanical components, allowing custom sample holder configurations and additional optics to be easily integrated with this microscope.

Several common options are outlined below, while our full selection of sample holders can be explored in the Cerna Components presentation.

Rigid Stands

Click to Enlarge MP10M(/M) Rigid Stand with Rectangular Insert Holder Designed for Multiple Slides, Petri Dishes, Well Plates, Breadboards, Our MZS500-E Z-Axis Piezo Stage, and User-Designed Inserts Height Range: 151.4 - 216.4 mm Other Heights Available

Click to Enlarge MPRC(/M) Recording Chamber Holder, MPP15 Post, and LPH150 Post Holder Insert Designed for Recording Chambers Height Range: 203.6 - 314.9 mm Other Heights Available

Click to Enlarge MP10(/M) Rigid Stand with Platform 24 1/4"-20 (M6 x 1.0) Tapped Holes for Holding Micromanipulators or Other Equipment Height Range: 151.4 - 216.4 mm Other Heights Available