Light Head Hanger System for the Stereo Microscope Fluorescence Adapter
The Light Head Hanger system is an accessory for the NIGHTSEA Model SFA Stereo Microscope Fluorescence Adapter. It is a combination of power extension cables and a custom made holder that enables you to take the fluorescence excitation light heads off the gooseneck and mount them directly on the SFA adapter ring. In addition, it provides the capability to drive two light heads from one lamp base.
The extension cables plug into the gooseneck lamp base and can bring power to two light heads.
The Light Head Hanger mounts to the end of any of the thumbscrews on the SFA adapter ring. It can be configured for use with either long or short working distance microscopes.
- Long working distance (LWD) – 6.5 cm (2.56") and greater
- Short working distance (SWD) – 6.5-4.6 cm (2.5-1.8")
There are two main potential benefits with this accessory.
1) Increase excitation intensity without buying a second lamp base. Without this system, if you wanted to increase the fluorescence excitation intensity of the SFA, you would need to buy a second light head and lamp base. This would take up additional real estate on your laboratory bench. With the Light Head Hanger system you can power two light heads from one base and mount them both directly to the NIGHTSEA adapter ring.
"We had some issue detecting red fluorescent proteins with some of our weaker transgenic zebrafish lines, but by shining two LED lights onto the same embryo, most of our weakest GFP and mCherry transgenic lines can now be detected. One light head was fine for reasonably bright specimens, and with two lights, the fluorescence is nearly the same as traditional stereomicroscopes priced $15-20K."
2) Reduce the chance of accidentally bumping the light. Taking the light head off the gooseneck and mounting it directly to our microscope adapter ring reduces the chance of the light head being bumped so that it is not illuminating the subject on the microscope stage to best effect. This might be especially valuable if you are using the system for outreach demonstrations and multiple people will be working around the microscope.