Siskiyou Corporation has launched the new IS-LEDc, a dual wavelength excitation light source for optongenetics and other life science applications. The IS-LEDc optics module combines the output from two LEDs, and focuses this light into a single SMA fibre optic connector, while the IS-LEDc controller provides a simple software and USB interface to enable full digital and independently addressable control of each LED, including external triggering from TTL input.
The IS-LEDc is suitable for both end users and OEMs in a range of applications – from optogenetics stimulation to widefield microscopy and fluorescence imaging of microwell arrays – that need the ability to independently pulse two different excitation wavelengths, with no time lag or shift in illumination alignment. The majority of these also need fibre delivery of the light sources.
The IS-LEDc simplifies the task of fibre delivery because it is permanently aligned at the factory to eliminate all the well-known challenges faced when attempting to couple LED output into a fibre, and particularly when combining two LEDs into a single fibre. The output of the IS-LEDc can then be coupled into standard format upright microscopes using SMA connectorised fibre and Siskiyou’s CBH-1.0 microscope beamsplitter module. Alternately, the output can be focused into other applications using the company’s MRK100 imaging system.
The IS-LEDc is available with a choice of any two LEDs from a comprehensive range of visible and near infrared centre wavelengths, including 460nm, 525nm, 590nm, 735nm and 850nm. LED nominal power output is five watts at each wavelength, with other powers available on a custom basis.