Laser Microdissection Microscope

 描述(由申请人提供)：申请资金购买徕卡激光显微解剖7000系统(LMD)，以取代过时的徕卡激光显微解剖系统。LMD 7000是一款最先进的仪器，它拥有非常高功率的固态激光，可以切割视网膜和结膜的厚片。在 同时，激光系统有能力进行快速精确的切割，从而实现高效的解剖 以及对单个细胞或细胞组的精细解剖。所要求的显微镜将取代徕卡ASM，后者的氮气激光器的寿命为三年，随着时间的推移会失去切割能力，使厚切片无法解剖，需要多次激光才能切割较薄的切片。气体激光器在过去4年中不得不更换两次，激光更换和镜面重新校准需要几周到几个月的停机时间。所要求的具有荧光成像能力的徕卡激光显微解剖7000系统的报价为191,565美元。我们将能够在新系统上使用旧系统的几个目标和一个阶段控制系统，这使所需经费减少了6 184美元。在我们研究所，激光捕获显微镜的使用急剧增长，目前有7个主要用户和4个次要用户要求使用新仪器。调查人员的资金来自7笔NIH拨款和1笔基金会拨款。使用位于4-5个街区之外的质量眼耳医院的另一台仪器是不可行的，因为内部使用率高、显微镜时间可用以及RNA分离要求。显微镜将被集成到谢彭斯的形态单位，并将由唐·波特尔监督，他目前负责现有的较旧的LMD。波特尔先生负责培训新的调查人员如何使用仪器及其日常维护和管理。使用以先到先得的方式注册为基础。仪器的维护费用将来自仪器使用费，这将以实际成本为基础。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Funds are requested for the purchase of a Leica Laser Microdissection 7000 system (LMD) to replace a Leica AS LMD system that is obsolete. The LMD 7000 is a state-of the art instrument that has a very high power, solid-state laser that allows the dissection capability needed to cut thick sections of the retina and conjunctiva. At the same time, the laser system has the ability to make fast precise cuts allowing efficient dissection and fine dissection of individual cells or groups of cells. The requested microscope would replace a Leica ASM that has a nitrogen gas laser that has a three year life span which loses cutting power over time, making dissection of thick sections impossible and multiple passes of the laser are needed to cut thinner sections. The gas laser has had to be replaced twice in the past 4 years, and weeks- to-months in downtime have been required for laser replacement and mirror recalibration. The quote for the requested Leica Laser Microdissection 7000 system with fluorescence imaging capabilities is $191,565. We will be able to use several objectives and a stage control system from the older system on the new system and this has decreased the request for funds by $6,184. Use of laser capture microscopy has grown dramatically at our research institute and currently 7 major users and 4 minor users request the new instrument. The investigators are funded by 7 NIH grants and a foundation grant. It is not feasible to use another instrument located at the Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary located 4-5 blocks away because of high internal use, availability of microscope time, as well as RNA isolation requirements. The microscope will be integrated into the Morphology Unit at the Schepens and will be over seen by Don Pottle who is currently responsible for the existing older LMD. Mr. Pottle is responsible for training new investigators in use of the instrument and its day-to-day maintenance and management. Use is based on signup in a first come first serve basis. The costs for maintenance of the instrument will be from fee for instrument use, which will be based on actual cost.