23. To extend the reach of this vacuum signal cable, one may
terminate the red and black wires using a BNC female connector, instead of the male connector specified in the protocol.
This makes it possible to use a standard (male-to-male) BNC
coaxial cable as a convenient extension.
24. Incandescent 100-W, 12-V tungsten-halogen lamps, such as
those commonly fitted in the standard lamp housing that is
furnished with research-grade optical microscopes, emit
~3000 lumen of luminous flux. When using a high-speed
video camera that has adequate light sensitivity, the brightness
of such halogen bulbs is sufficient for routine detection of
intracellular ice formation in suspended or attached cells, and
an external illuminator is not necessary. However, for special
applications in which higher light intensity is required, one may
replace the microscope lamp housing by an external light
source (e.g., the Lumencor SOLA, which can supply illumination that is approximately twice as bright as that of a standard
100-W halogen lamp). If the original microscope lamp is
replaced by a brighter light source, it is important to pay critical
attention to optical radiation safety, because exposure to highintensity light may cause serious personal injury (e.g., vision
loss). The risks are even higher if using a metal-halide lamp as
an external illuminator, because gas-discharge lamps emit high
levels of ultraviolet radiation. To mitigate such dangers, it is
recommended that the microscope eyepieces be permanently
removed and the ocular tubes capped (so that the operator can
view a specimen only via the live image from a camera).
25. Liquid light guides are fragile, and if stressed may form bubbles
in the liquid core, which can significantly reduce light transmission. In particular, liquid light guides should always be
installed with sufficient slack and not be allowed to form any
bends with a radius of curvature less than ~10 cm.
26. The transit screws are marked by small yellow labels on the
bottom of the LNP unit. These four screws are installed for
shipping, to secure the shock-mounted pumps. When the transit screws have been removed, the LNP should be handled
gently and protected from large accelerations that can damage
the anti-vibration mounts. The screws and washers can be
fastened to the four holes provided for storage on the unit’s
back panel.
27. It is important to use the FDCS196 stage cable and not the
original BCS196 stage cable. Only if using the FDCS196 cable
will the Linksys32 software be able to register the trigger signal
that is input via the vacuum controller card. The BCS196 cable
should be used only if the cryomicroscope is controlled using
the LINK software.
High-Speed Video Cryomicroscopy
249
terminate the red and black wires using a BNC female connector, instead of the male connector specified in the protocol.
This makes it possible to use a standard (male-to-male) BNC
coaxial cable as a convenient extension.
24. Incandescent 100-W, 12-V tungsten-halogen lamps, such as
those commonly fitted in the standard lamp housing that is
furnished with research-grade optical microscopes, emit
~3000 lumen of luminous flux. When using a high-speed
video camera that has adequate light sensitivity, the brightness
of such halogen bulbs is sufficient for routine detection of
intracellular ice formation in suspended or attached cells, and
an external illuminator is not necessary. However, for special
applications in which higher light intensity is required, one may
replace the microscope lamp housing by an external light
source (e.g., the Lumencor SOLA, which can supply illumination that is approximately twice as bright as that of a standard
100-W halogen lamp). If the original microscope lamp is
replaced by a brighter light source, it is important to pay critical
attention to optical radiation safety, because exposure to highintensity light may cause serious personal injury (e.g., vision
loss). The risks are even higher if using a metal-halide lamp as
an external illuminator, because gas-discharge lamps emit high
levels of ultraviolet radiation. To mitigate such dangers, it is
recommended that the microscope eyepieces be permanently
removed and the ocular tubes capped (so that the operator can
view a specimen only via the live image from a camera).
25. Liquid light guides are fragile, and if stressed may form bubbles
in the liquid core, which can significantly reduce light transmission. In particular, liquid light guides should always be
installed with sufficient slack and not be allowed to form any
bends with a radius of curvature less than ~10 cm.
26. The transit screws are marked by small yellow labels on the
bottom of the LNP unit. These four screws are installed for
shipping, to secure the shock-mounted pumps. When the transit screws have been removed, the LNP should be handled
gently and protected from large accelerations that can damage
the anti-vibration mounts. The screws and washers can be
fastened to the four holes provided for storage on the unit’s
back panel.
27. It is important to use the FDCS196 stage cable and not the
original BCS196 stage cable. Only if using the FDCS196 cable
will the Linksys32 software be able to register the trigger signal
that is input via the vacuum controller card. The BCS196 cable
should be used only if the cryomicroscope is controlled using
the LINK software.
High-Speed Video Cryomicroscopy
249