Measuring Fluorescence Lifetime with the DeltaMyc

The DeltaMyc from HORIBA Scientific is a filter-based confocal microscope system capable of measuring fluorescence lifetime and intensity in micro scales.

The DeltaMyc is a versatile research tool which integrates a wide range of picosecond pulsed laser diode sources spanning wavelengths from 370 to 980 nm, and repetition rates from CW to 100 MHz, a variety of detector options, and several filter configurations to meet specific measurement requirements.

The DeltaMyc offers time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) for sensitive and quick acquisition of luminescence lifetimes. It has fully-automated mapping controlled from an intuitive user interface, HORIBA’s DataStation software, and continues to maintain the full functionality and versatility of the microscope. Full reconvolution analysis can be performed to produce maps of the fit parameters such as relative amplitudes, lifetimes, average lifetime, and fluorescence intensity.

The DeltaMyc is equipped with a compact optical module added to an IX73 inverted microscope or an Olympus BX 53 upright microscope. Its mapping capabilities include an automated X,Y fast scanning stage, which, when integrated with its confocal ability, can produce fluorescence lifetime mapping with micron level spatial resolution.

The high dynamic range, low noise, cooled camera and a high intensity fluorescence illuminator, matched with the DeltaMyc, allows for widefield fluorescence imaging.

Key Features

The main features of the DeltaMyc are as follows:

Single photon counting (TCSPC) for lifetimes from 100 ps to seconds

Numerous choices of laser diodes sources (370-980 nm), dichroic filters and pinholes to meet any sample

New laser diode, DeltaDiode™ with high repetition rate lasers (up to 100 MHZ), operated as CW or pulsed mode

FRET software routine for transfer efficiency and molecular distance

Intuitive data acquisition and analysis software

Cooled fluorescence camera for wide field fluorescence imaging

Fully-integrated system with direct source coupling, confocal detection and single-photon counting module

Widefield steady state fluorescence for comparative studies

Fast mapping speed (data in seconds)

Applications

The main application areas of the DeltaMyc are:

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)

Quantum dots

Fluorescence dyes

Nanoparticles

Thin films and semiconductors

Biological as well as material science samples

Cell and tissue analysis intrinsic fluorescence

Conjugated fluorescence labels and quantum dots