As quantitative microscopy becomes increasingly complex, researchers often need to employ multiple light sources for epifluorescence experiments. Microscopes, however, are designed with only one or two epi-fluorescence input ports. Additionally, for many laboratories, a single microscope stand must be equipped to serve a broad variety of functions. The Multiport Illumination adapters provide a flexible solution to both problems. These adapters consist of a highly modular illumination coupling system for combining up to four light sources to the input light port of a microscope.

The Multiport Illuminators are based around an interlocking series of cubes that accept the same filter cubes used in the OptoSplit and TwinCam products. These interlocking cubes can be used in series to create a custom configuration. With the appropriate dichroic mirrors, the user can select the desired wavelengths.

There are 4 types of couplers available, depending on the type of microscope, each capable of supporting up to 4 input light sources:

• Epi port illuminators – Mount to the standard epi-illuminator port of any upright or inverted microscope, replacing the existing lamp house.
• Transmitted port illuminators – Mount to the standard transmitted light port of any upright or inverted microscope, replacing the existing lamp house.
• Direct illuminators – Replace the standard epifluorescence illuminator on an inverted microscope, enabling more power at the sample plane.  In addition, the direct couplers are compatible with the field stop adapters that allows one of the LEDs to be partially masked while leaving the other ports to illuminate the full field.
• Infinity port illuminators – These fit between the trinocular head and body of several upright microscope models, allowing light to be ported directly into infinity space and be combined with the standard epi-illumination pathway. The infinity port adapters are also compatible with field stop adapters.

The multiport illumination adapters are compatible with the OptoLED, OptoLED lite and OptoFlash LED systems, the OptoScan Monochromator as well as any other light guide-coupled light source. There are also the options to couple a single-mode or a multi-mode fiber from the LDI for a simple, single-point FRAP/Optogenetics/Photoactivation system.