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Inverted Compound Microscopes FAQs
Need to know more about our Leica Inverted Compound Microscopes?
Discover some questions below.
An inverted microscope’s main distinguishing feature is the location of the optics. The optics are located below the stage. As a result, the sample is placed on top of the objectives. This means you will look at the sample from below it. Because the optics are underneath the sample, inverted microscopes offer ample working space to view samples of all shapes and sizes.
For an inverted microscope, the objectives are positioned beneath the stage, while the sample is placed above the objectives. This is the opposite of an upright microscope. With an inverted microscope:
- You have more flexibility with a stereo microscope than an upright one, allowing for imaging of larger and heavier samples due to the greater working distances provided by the objective being above the sample.
- Observing cell and tissue cultures is easier with an inverted microscope as cells sink or stick to the bottom of the transparent dish or flask which is filled with an aqueous solution. On the other hand, it is more difficult to see from above with an upright microscope, as water immersion objectives would be necessary.
- You can quickly view multiple samples without having to refocus the microscope each time. Simply place the sample on the stage, focus once, and image away.
- Reducing the risk of crashing objectives into samples is possible due to their placement below the stage.
- You can save time and money in sample preparation by imaging only one side of the sample.
Investing in a customized inverted microscope may have a higher price tag but can significantly boost your productivity. The versatility of an inverted microscope lies in its ability to be optimized for almost any application, thanks to a vast selection of parts and accessories available.
Leica inverted microscope solutions offer the necessary optical resolution, contrast, and image quality for observing samples in life science research, such as cells or tissues, or in materials production and analysis. You can also customize and optimize the solution according to your specific application needs with accessories like objectives, illumination, digital cameras, and Leica Application Suite X software.
When choosing an inverted microscope, it’s essential to consider your specific application needs. Certain models, such as inverted compound and fluorescence microscopes, may be better suited for particular tasks. Leica’s inverted microscopes have a modular design that allows customization to meet your specific requirements.
Leica inverted microscopes are shipped in modular configurations that can be easily upgraded with available accessories to accommodate changing needs.
Inverted microscopes are designed to allow the observer to look at samples from below, as their optics are positioned below the sample stage. This is in contrast to upright microscopes, where the samples are viewed from above. In life science research, inverted microscopes are often used to study cell and tissue cultures, as these tend to settle at the bottom of a transparent dish or flask filled with a growth medium and are not easily visible from above. These microscopes are also widely used in material applications.
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Inverted microscopes have wide applications in metallography and quality assurance tasks in various industries such as medical device or microelectronics manufacturing, automotive and aviation, and materials science for analyzing different materials. They are particularly useful for viewing large samples that can weigh up to 30 kg. On the other hand, upright microscopes have limited capabilities and can only be used to view samples with a maximum height of 80 mm and weight of 3 kg.
Inverted microscopes are designed in a way that the objectives and turret are positioned beneath the stage. This allows for the sample to be positioned as high as the ceiling, without any height limitations. However, the maximum weight of the sample is limited to 30 kg, depending on the stage that is used. This weight limit is ten times larger than that of an upright microscope, which can only accommodate samples up to 80 mm high and weighing up to 3 kg.
You have three options for controlling the integrated camera. Firstly, you can use a remote control unit to capture images which can then be stored on the camera's SD card. Secondly, you can opt for a palm/footswitch to capture images. Lastly, you can use Leica DMshare V3 to make your camera wireless. This will allow you to capture live cell images and share them with your colleagues, even if they are in a different room. The images will be stored on an iPad or Android tablet, enabling easy access and sharing.
You can integrate a camera into microscopes such as the Leica DMi1, either a 2.5-megapixel or a 5-megapixel colour camera. Control and acquisition work as follows:
- The camera can be connected to an HD monitor and acquires single images or movies on the SD card, which is located in the camera head.
- The camera can be connected to an HD monitor and an additional imaging hub, which makes the camera wireless and allows camera control and image acquisition with your iPad or tablet PC via the Leica DMshare V3 App.
- The camera can be connected to a PC and controlled via Leica Application Suite (LAS) X software and a monitor.
If you need DIC, we recommend the Leica DM IL inverted microscope, which can be equipped with the Integrated Modulation Contrast (IMC) or the Leica DMi8 inverted microscope, which offers DIC.
For fluorescence imaging, we recommend the Leica DM IL inverted microscope which can be equipped with a fluorescence axis.
For those who require a larger free working distance, we highly recommend the S80 condenser, which provides 80mm of free working distance. This is particularly useful when working with large culture flasks. However, if you prioritize a higher numerical aperture that can provide better resolution, we suggest using the S40 condenser, which has an NA of 0.45 and a free working distance of 40 to 50 mm. It is important to note that both condensers are interchangeable.
All of our microscope solutions are encoded and come with calibration and image comparison features. Additionally, Leica Microsystems provides the Store & Recall software free of charge (available with the LAS X software platform for industry), which enables you to restore all system settings saved with the acquired image.
Leica Microsystems provides a free software called Store & Recall that comes with the LAS X Industry software platform. This software enables you to personalize the microscope functions as per your requirements and individual preferences. Additionally, you can save and restore all system settings that were used while capturing an image.
Yes, the use of a 3rd party software is possible.
We have adapters for all C-mount compatible cameras and more in our camera section of the website.