euromex BioBlue.Lab Microscope User Manual

BioBlue.Lab

User Manual

General safety instructions

Intended use: a non-medical device

This microscope is intended for general observation of cells and tissues, with transmitted/reflected illumination and with the specimen fixed on a slide

Dangers associated with the operation

• Improper use could result in injury, malfunction or damage to property. It must be ensured that the operator informs every user of existing hazards
• Danger of electrocution. Disconnect the power to the entire lighting system before installing, adding or changing any component
• Not to be used in corrosive or explosive environments
• Avoid direct exposure of eyes to the collimated light beam or direct light from the light guides or fibers
• To avoid a hazard to children, account for all parts and keep all packing materials in a safe place

Photobiological safety LED, important safety instructions

• Avoid direct eye exposure to any LED light source while switched on
• Before looking through the eyepieces of the microscope, lower the intensity of the LED illumination
• Avoid long and high-intensity exposure to LED light because this may cause acute damage to the retina of the eye

Prevention of biological and infectious hazards

Infectious, bacterial, or viral biohazard substances under observation may be a risk to the health of humans and other living organisms

• Biological hazards: keep a logbook of all the biological substances or pathogenic microorganisms that were under observation with the microscope and show it to everybody before they use the microscope or before they do some maintenance work on the microscope! Agents can be bacterial, spores, enveloped or non-enveloped virus particles, fungi, or protozoa
• Contamination hazard:
• A sample that is properly enclosed with a cover glass never comes in direct contact with the microscope In that case prevention of contamination lies in the handling of the slides; as long as the slides are decontaminated before use and are undamaged and treated normally, there is virtually zero risk of contamination
• A sample that is mounted on a slide without cover glass, can come in contact with components of the microscope and maybe a hazard to humans and/or the environment. Therefore, check the microscope and accessories for possible contaminations. Clean the microscope surfaces and their components as thoroughly as possible. Should you identify possible contamination, inform the local responsible person in your organization
• Microscope operators could be contaminated by other activities and cross-contaminate components of the microscope. Therefore, check the microscope and accessories for possible contaminations. Clean the microscope surfaces and their components as thoroughly as possible. Should you identify possible contamination, inform the local responsible person in your organization. it is recommended to wear sterile gloves when preparing the slides and handling the microscope in order to reduce contamination by the operator
• Infection hazard: direct contact with the focusing knobs, stage adjustments, stage, and eyepieces/tubes of the microscope can be a potential source of bacterial and/or viral infections. The risk can be limited by using personal eyeshades or eyepieces. You can also use personal protections such as operation gloves and/or safety goggles, which should be changed frequently to minimize the risk
• Disinfectant hazards: before cleaning or disinfecting, check if the room is adequately ventilated. If not, wear respiratory protective gear. Exposure to chemicals and aerosols can harm the human eyes, skin, and respiratory system. Do not inhale vapors. During disinfection, do not eat, drink or smoke. Used disinfectants must be disposed of according to local or national regulations for health and safety

Disinfection and decontamination:

• Exterior casing and mechanical surfaces must be wiped with a clean cloth, dampened with a disinfectant
• Soft plastic parts and rubber surfaces can be cleaned by gently wiping a clean cloth, dampened with a Discoloration can occur if alcohol is used
• The front lens of eyepieces and objectives are sensitive to chemicals. We recommend not to use aggressive disinfectants but to use lens paper or soft fiber-free tissue, damped in the cleaning solution. Cotton swabs may also be used. We recommend you use personal eyepieces without eyeshades in order to minimize risk
• Never immerse or dip the eyepiece or objective into a disinfectant liquid! This will damage the component
• Never use abrasive compounds or cleaners that may damage and scratch optical coatings
• Properly clean and disinfect all possible contaminated surfaces of the microscope or contaminated accessories before storing them for future use. Disinfection procedures must be effective and appropriate
• Leave the disinfectant on the surface for the required exposure time, as specified by the manufacturer. If the disinfectant evaporates before the full exposure time, reapply the disinfectant on the surface
• For disinfection against bacteria, use a 70% aqueous solution of isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) and apply for at least 30 seconds. Against viruses, we recommend referring to specific alcohol or non-alcohol based disinfection products for laboratories

Before returning a microscope for repair or maintenance through a Euromex dealer, an RMA (return authorization form) together with a decontamination statement must be filled in! This document – available from Euromex for any reseller- must be shipped together with the microscope at all times

Reference documents:

World Health Organisation:
https://www.who.int/ihr/publications/biosafety-video-series/en/

Robert Koch Institut:
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00103-013-1863-6.pdf

US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/disinfection/indexhtml

Handle with care

• This product is a high-quality optical instrument. Delicate handling is required
• Avoid subjecting it to sudden shocks and impacts
• Impacts, even small ones, can affect the precision of the instrument

Handling the LED

Note: Always disconnect the power cord from your microscope before handling the LED bulb and power unit and allow the system to cool down for approximately 35 minutes to avoid bum

• Never touch the LED with your bare hands
• Dirt or fingerprints will reduce the life span and can result in uneven illumination, lowering the optical performance
• Use only original Euromex replacement LEDs
• The use of other products may cause malfunctions and will void the warranty
• During the use of the microscope the power unit will get hot; never touch it while in operation and allow the system to cool down for approximately 35 minutes to avoid bum

Dirt on the lenses

• Dirt on or inside the optical components, such as eyepieces, lenses, etc., affects the image quality of your system negatively
• Always try to prevent your microscope from getting dirty by using the dust cover, prevent leaving fingerprints on the lenses and clean the outer surface of the lens regularly
• Cleaning optical components is a delicate matter. Please, read the cleaning instructions further on in this manual

Environment, storage, and use

• This product is a precision instrument and it should be used in a proper environment for optimal use
• Install your product indoors on a stable, vibration-free and level surface in order to prevent this instrument to fall thereby harming the operator
• Do not place the product in direct sunlight
• The ambient temperature should be between 5 to +40°C and humidity should be between 80% and 50%
• Although the system is anti-mold treated, installing this product in a hot, humid location may still result in the formation of mold or condensation on lenses, impairing performance or causing malfunctions
• Never turn the right and left focus knobs in opposite directions at the same time or turn the coarse focus knob past its farthest point as this will damage this product
• Never use undue force when turning the knobs
• Make sure that the microscope system can dissipate its heat (fire hazard)
• Keep the microscope away from walls and obstructions for at least approximately 15 cm
• Never turn the microscope on when the dust cover is in place or when items are placed on the microscope
• Keep flammable fluids, fabric, etc. well out of the way

Disconnect power
Always disconnect your microscope from power before doing any maintenance, cleaning, assembling, or replacing LEDs to prevent electric shocks

Prevent contact with water and other fluids
Never allow water or other fluids to come in contact with your microscope, this can cause short-circuiting your device, causing malfunction and damage to your system

Moving and assembling

• This microscope is a relatively heavy system, consider this when moving and installing the system
• Always lift the microscope by holding the main body and base of the microscope
• Never lift or move the microscope by its focusing knobs, stage, or head
• When needed, move the microscope to two persons instead of one

Introduction

With your purchase of a BioBlue.Lab microscope you have chosen for a quality product. The BioBlue.Lab microscopes are developed for use at universities and laboratories
The maintenance requirements are limited when using the microscope in a decent manner
This manual describes the construction of the microscope, how to use the microscope, and its maintenance

Construction of the microscope

The names of the several parts are listed below and are indicated in the picture of Nil S3-PLI

A. Photo tube
B. Dapter adjustment
C. Eyepieces
D. Head (bino/trino 360° rotatable)
E. Eyepiece tube
F. Revolving nosepiece for 4 objectives
G. Light dimmer (right side of the microscope)
H. Objectives
I. Stand arm
J. Safety device (rack stop)
K. Object stage with mechanical stage
L. Condenser with iris diaphragm and filter holder
M. Height adjustment of the condenser
N. Condenser centering screws
0. Coaxial coarse-and fine adjustment
P. Coaxial stage controls
Q. Tension adjustment
R. Lamp housing
S. On/off switch
T. Stand base

Functions of the microscope

The stand consists of a standing arm (I), stand base (T), and an object stage (K)

  Hold the microscope at the top of the stand arm with one hand and support the base with the other hand when it needs to be moved

Eyepiece tube

The eyepiece tube (E, either binocular or trinocular) is equipped with WF10x eyepieces (C)

Revolving nosepiece

The revolving nosepiece (F) can be equipped with four objectives (H)

Optical specifications of the BioBlue.Lab range

The BioBlue.Lab range microscopes come with two widefield eyepieces WF10x/20mm (C), Plan finite, IOS infinity Plan or IOS infinity Plan Phase contrast objectives, as mentioned below in table

The 540x and S100x objectives are equipped with a spring mount, to prevent damage to the front lens and the slide. The total magnification can be calculated by multiplying the magnification of the eyepiece with the magnification of the objective. The magnifications are displayed in the table below:

Object stage

The stage is equipped with a mechanical stage (K) and can be carefully moved into X- and Y- directions. Centering the specimen is done by using the coaxial X and Y stage control (P)

Coarse- and fine adjustment

The coarse- and fine adjustment knobs (0) for the height adjustment of the object stage are mounted together on one ax (co-axial). On both fine adjustment knobs, there is graduation with intervals of 0.002 mm. This can be used to measure depths in a specimen

Abbe condenser with iris diaphragm

• Beneath the object stage an Abbe condenser (L) N.A. 1.25 is mounted. The condenser can be adjusted in height by means of turning the knob (M)
• The condenser collects a maximum of collimated light from the light source and concentrates it into a cone of light to illuminate the specimen. The iris diaphragm of the condenser allows adjusting the contrast of the image. The height of the condenser and iris diaphragm must be adjusted each time an objective is selected in order to maximize both contrast and optical resolving power
• With the phase-contrast models a Zernike phase contrast condenser is mounted with annuli for 10x, 20x, S40x, and S100x objectives, and one position with an Abbe condenser for brightfield

Illumination

The illumination of the BioBlue.The lab is equipped with Need. This makes the illumination intensity much higher and more homogenous distributed than by regular LED’s

The illumination has the following specifications:

LED: 3W, NeoLed

Preparing the microscope for use

Remove the packing and put the microscope on a flat table. The objectives are pre-mounted.
Put the plug into the mains supply and switch on the microscope. Sit comfortably down in front of the microscope and take a relaxed position while looking through the eyepieces

Working with the microscope

Please read the following instructions to achieve the best microscope observing results

Setting the illumination

• Before starting to use the microscope and looking through the eyepieces, lower the intensity (G) in order to avoid high-intensity exposures to light that may harm your eyes!
• Start with the lowest magnification available on the microscope (e.g. the 4x or 10x objective)
• Look through the eyepieces and adjust the light intensity to a comfortable level
• Fully open the iris diaphragm of the condenser
• Focus on the specimen
• Turn the condenser higher or lower until the best homogeneous illumination is the observer (somewhere close to the condenser)
• Close the condenser diaphragm until] you start observing dark shadows entering from the edges into the field of view. Re-open a little until! the dark shadows have left the field of view (this operation can be repeated for every other selected objective)

Caution:
The maximum light intensity when using the 4x and 10x can damage the eyes!

Kohler illumination

(only for models with a field diaphragm)
Prior to setting up the Kohler illumination be sure that the light source is well centered

1. Place the specimen on the stage, fully open the field diaphragm – if present – fully open the iris diaphragm of the condenser. Select an objective (H) and adjust light intensity to a comfortable level by using the intensity adjustment
2. Focus on the specimen with the coarse and fine adjustments (0)
3. In order to optimize contrast and resolving power,

• Adjust the condenser in height (M)
  The higher the magnification the higher the condenser should be positioned

• Adjust the opening (aperture) of the field iris diaphragm
  The higher the magnification, the smaller the aperture should be in order to optimize the resolving power by eliminating affright rays that are not participating in the construction of the image as seen in the field of view

• adjust the opening (aperture) of the iris diaphragm of the condenser to control the contrast
  The user must find the best balance between image contrast and resolving power (the smallest detail of the specimen that you can observe). Most of the time it primarily contrasts that defines if the image is acceptable to the eye. The correct setting will vary from specimen to specimen
  Together with the opening (aperture) of the iris diaphragm of the condenser, the height of the condenser determines the numerical aperture (and resolving power) of the optical system. The numerical aperture of the condenser should match the aperture of the selected objects in order to obtain the highest resolving power possible.

4. When another objective is selected, repeat the previous steps A2 and A3

Setting the interpupillary distance

Using a binocular or trinocular tube is less tiring for the eyes than the use of a monocular tube

• Set the interpupillary distance so that only a single field of view is observed. This can be done by squeezing the tubes together or pulling them apart to decrease/increase the separation between the eyepiece tubes

Adjusting the diopter

• Position the diopter mark on the zero point (wearers of glasses can leave them on)
• Look into the eyepieces with both eyes and focus on a specimen with the coarse and fine adjustments without touching the diopter adjustment
• Take your eyes from the eyepiece in order to “reset° your eyes for a second
• Close your right eye and look with your left eye into the left eyepiece and re-focus on the sample by only using the diopter adjustment
• Take your eye from the eyepiece in order to “reset” your eyes for a second
• Look into both eyepieces and check if the focus is correct. If not, repeat the operation

This procedure should be followed by each individual user

Safety devise – rack stop

Rack stop (or Safety rack stop, (J)): usually set at the factory, the rack stop keeps you from cranking the objective lenses too far down and damaging either the objective lens or the microscope slide. It is recommended to use slides of 1.2 mm thickness (product numbers: P8.5150, PB.S155, P8.5160) in combination with cover glasses of 0.17 mm thickness (product numbers: PB.5165, PB.5168)

Tension control setting

Between the right-handed coarse adjustment knob and the microscope stand, there is a ring for the tension control setting (Q). By means of turning it clockwise- or counterclockwise the tension of the coarse adjustment knobs can be adjusted

Use of the 5100x oil-immersion objective

The microscopes are equipped with a 5100x N.A. 1.25 oil immersion objective. Please follow these instructions for using this objective

• Focus the image with the 540x objective
• Turn the revolving nosepiece so the 5100x objective almost reaches the click-stop
• Put a small drop of immersion oil on the center of the slide
• Now turn the 5100x objective so that you feel the click stop
• The front lens is in contact with the immersion oil
• Look through the eyepiece (C) and focus the image with the fine adjustment knobs (0)

Note:
The distance between the lens of the objective and the slide is only 0.14 mm!

• In case there are small bubbles visible, turn the 5100x objective a couple of times left/right so that the front of the objective moves in the oil, and the bubbles will disappear
• After using the 5100x objective, turn the table (K) with the focusing knobs (0) downwards until the front lens doesn’t touch the oil any longer
• Always clean the front lens of the 5100x objective with a piece of lens paper that is moistened with a drop of xylol or alcohol
• Clean the slide after use as well

Caution
Never put a drop of xylol or alcohol directly on the lens of the objective. It could enter the objective and dissolve the glue that holds the lenses! Avoid oil contact with any of the other objectives!

Models with rotatable phase condenser

The substage phase-contrast Zemike condenser can be adjusted in height by means of a rack and pinion movement and knob (M). In this way, the light beam is concentrated in the specimen. The condenser is centered with the help of the supplied centering telescope (D) and centering knobs (B)

A. Phase condenser
B. Phase condenser alignment knobs
C. Phase objective
D. Centering telescope
E. Green filter

Take the following steps in order to center the phase rings

1. Turn the condenser disc in its first position, e.g. “10”. This brings the phase ring for the 10x objective in the optical path

2. Position the condenser with (M) in the almost highest position

3. Turn the nosepiece (F) to select the corresponding phase contrast objective, e.g. 10x

4. Put a specimen on the stage and focus on the specimen with the coarse and fine adjustments (0)

5. Remove the specimen from the stage and don’t touch the coarse and fine adjustments (0) anymore

6. Remove one eyepiece and insert in the empty eyepiece tube telescope (D)

7. Bring the objective phase ring in focus with the adjustable lens of the telescope (D)

8. Position – by using the 2-phase condenser alignment knobs (B) – the phase ring of the condenser is on top of the phase-contrast ring of the objective. See pictures visible in the eyepiece are in one centric line
   __ DON’T use the two adjustments at the same time! Push gently one adjustment (B) at a time into the condenser and turn to move the phase contrast ring internally. Relieve the pressure and repeat alternatively the operation till both the phase contrast rings are superposed to changing the height of the condenser can help you to find the correct position. When the colors are homogeneously spread around the phase contrast rings, both are centered

9. Select the next phase contrast objective (typically 20/40/100x) and corresponding phase-contrast ring on the condenser

10. Repeat steps 7 to 9

__ Caution: Avoid touching optical parts during centering

Cameras

• For trinocular models, insert the camera with a mounted c-mount adapter into the 23.2 mm photo tube. Take an easy-to-view specimen and focus on the specimen through the microscope’s eyepieces. To focus the camera: unscrew the ring (A) and turn the tube (B) in order to make it longer or shorter, while watching the screen till the image is in focus. Then tighten the ring to prevent unwanted movement of the tube
• Digital cameras are designed to be used on the phototube of the microscope. It is also possible to use the digital camera in combination with a binocular head, monocular head or discussion head. To use the camera on one of these heads, simply remove the eyepiece (C) and then place the camera with a mounted c-mount adapter into the eyepiece tube (E). Focus the digital image with the coarse and fine controls of the microscope

Follow the manual that comes with the camera for camera operation

Maintenance and cleaning

Always place the dust cover over the microscope after use. Keep the eyepieces and objectives always mounted on the microscope to avoid dust entering the instrument

Cleaning the optics

• When the eyepiece lens or front lens of the 10x or 540x objective is dirty, it can be cleaned by wiping a piece of lens paper over the surface (circular movements)

• When this does not help put a drop of xylol or alcohol on the lens paper
  Never put xylol or alcohol directly on the lens!

• When dirt is clearly visible in the field of view it resides on the lowest lens of the eyepiece. By using the Allen key the eyepiece can be removed from the Clean the outside of the lens

• In case there is still dust visible please check if the dust is in the eyepiece by turning it. If this is the case, remove the lowest lens carefully from the eyepiece and clean it

Never open an objective and remove internal lenses in order to clean them. This will definitely render the objective useless. Sometimes dust can be removed with high pressured air. There will never be dust in the objectives if the objectives are not removed from the revolving nosepiece

Caution
Use only optical paper or soft, fiber-free tissue

Maintenance of the stand

• Dust can be removed with a brush
• In case the stand or table is really dirty the surface can be cleaned with a non-aggressive cleaning product
• All moving parts like the height adjustment or the coaxial coarse and fine adjustment contain ball bearings that are not dust sensitive. With a drop of sewing machine oil, the bearing can be lubricated

Euromex Microscope by
Papenkamp 20
6836 BD Arnhem
The Netherlands T +31 (0) 26 323 22 11
info@euromex.com
www.euromex.com

All information may be changed without prior notice v.221311

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