Spectral Applied Research Borealis from BioVision Technologies
Enhancing your Yokogawa CSU Confocal Experience
The Yokogawa spinning disk confocal scanner unit is a class‐leading technology. Borealis from Spectal Applied Research brings new levels of performance to it.
Borealis uses proprietary technology and technology for which a patent is pending. This technology is the product of an innovative research and development program aimed at achieving the best possible imaging performance from Yokogawa Electric spinning disk confocal units. It ensures better uniformity, provides greatly increased light and offers new options for the use of lasers. It does all of this while improving reliability.
Uniformity
The typical Yokogawa CSU‐10 employs illumination that varies across the field of view by more than 20%. If the system is not well aligned, the peak is off‐center and the maximum deviation can be even larger. The following figures illustrate the difference between the uniformity of a standard CSU‐10 and a Borealis CSU‐10.
Uniformity of a standard CSU‐10
Uniformity of a Borealis CSU‐10
More Light to the Sample
Borealis modifications inside the Yokogawa CSU provide more efficient collection and utilization of the available light. These changes dramatically improve the light throughput where it is needed most. The result is more power available from a given laser.
The following plot illustrates the improvement of Borealis over both the CSU-10 and CSU-X1. At the critical 405 nm wavelength the improvement of Borealis over the standard CSU-10 is six‐fold.
Relative Light Efficiency of Unmodified CSU-10, Unmodified CSU‐X1 and Borealis
Options To Upgrade Existing Yokogawa Systems
Borealis technology can be applied as an upgrade to any generation of Yokogawa confocal unit. The upgrade will allow the use of an existing laser launch. For maximum reliability, flexibility and power it is also compatible with the Spectral Imaging Research LMM5 laser merge module. When the upgrade is performed, a number of other modifications are included to enhance eye safety and improve performance.
Options To Enhance New Yokogawa Systems
Borealis technology can be added to any new Yokogawa unit. This gives the user the maximum performance and flexibility from day one. In addition it ensures rock‐solid alignment for long‐term performance. Borealis X1 technology provides better uniformity and greater throughput than the standard X1.
Specifications
The following table compares the performance of different unmodified CSU’s as delivered from Yokogawa Electric with that of a CSU‐10 with the Borealis modifications.
Characteristic |
Unmodified CSU‐10, CSU‐21, CSU‐22, QLC‐100, UltraView |
Unmodified CSU‐X1, Ultraview VoX |
Borealis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relative throughput1 | |||
| at 405 nm: | 1 | 1.5 | >4 |
| at 488 nm: | 1 | 1.5 | >3 |
| at 491 nm: | 1 | 1.5 | >3 |
| at 561 nm: | 1 | 1.5 | >2 |
| at 642 nm: | 1 | 1.5 | >2 |
| Excitation Wavelengths | 405‒650 nm | 405‒650 nm | 400‒750 nm2 |
| Excitation Uniformity3 | 20%‒40%, wavelength‐dependent | 10%‒20%, wavelength‐dependent | <5%, wavelength‐dependent |
- Relative throughput is the quotient of division of the throughput of the given CSU by the throughput of the unmodified CSU‐10. Throughput is calculated by dividing the power from the spinning disk by the power from the fiber.
- The currently tested wavelength region is 400‒750 nm. Future testing will expand this range of operation to lower and higher wavelengths.
- Excitation uniformity is a measurement of the percentage deviation across the field of view.