NIGHTSEA Fluorescence Adapter for Keyence VHX-Series for Z500, various wavelengths

The NIGHTSEA™ fluorescence adapter system extends the Keyence VHX series for versatile use of fluorescence. The system is successfully used by a growing number of Keyence users for a variety of applications and is available for various excitation and emission wavelengths.

The NIGHTSEA fluorescence adapter system for the VH-Z500 objective includes:

• LED light head with excitation filter
• Slit emission filter - easy to use
• Emission filter goggles
• Dimmable gooseneck LED base (power supply: 120/240VAC - 50/60Hz, with int. plug set)
• Adapter and connection cable for mounting the LED light head on the fiber optic input of the VH-Z500 lens for improved light output at high magnification
• Soft case for storage

Filter sets are available for the following wavelengths:

Dimmable gooseneck base with LED light head
The illumination intensity can be adjusted at the base of the gooseneck. The LED light head is equipped with a BNC connector, which can be attached to the BNC socket at the end of the gooseneck and quickly replaced.

Slot emission filter
The slot emission filter is inserted into the existing Analyzer slot of the VH-Z500 lens. Due to the size of these lenses and the small working distance at high magnifications, the ring emission filter is not suited.
 

Emission filter goggles
The filter goggles spectrally match the respective emission filter. They serve as eye protection against the bright excitation light but are also suitable for viewing the fluorescence directly by eye.
 

Performance expectations
Keyence VHX microscopes are not designed for fluorescence. That said, the NIGHTSEA™ adapter system adds a fluorescence capability that is proving to be valuable for a growing number of users. Several companies have purchased multiple adapters so that they could replicate the performance across multiple microscopes. However, the NIGHTSEA™ adapter system does not replace a fluorescence microscope.

Enhanced performance with the VH-Z500 and limitations

The objectives achieve enhanced performance by replacing the Keyence fiber optic port with the NIGHTSEA excitation light head using the adapter provided. Thereby the excitation light is directly guided through the lens creating a much more concentrated illumination spot, than achieved with the light source positioned on the side.

Alternatives to UV-light excitation:
Many of fluorescent materials used in industrial applications, such as dye penetrants, epoxies used for highlighting cracks and separations or for concrete thin sections, fluoresce very well under Royal Blue excitation, while conformal coatings on circuit boards fluoresce well under Violet excitation.

The NIGHTSEA fluorescence adapter for the Keyence microscopes may not be well suited for imaging biological subjects at high magnification. The method of delivering the excitation light, the fact that the Keyence camera is designed for higher light levels, and the fact that biological fluorophores tend to be weaker than synthetic dyes limit the expected performance.

For all applications you will need to use higher gain settings than you would normally use for white light imaging.