Description
STELLARIS FALCON (Fast Lifetime CONtrast) FLIM provides high-speed, fully integrated Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM). FLIM enables functional imaging (molecular interactions, micro-environmental studies) and multiplexing (separate signals from dyes with similar spectra but different fluorescence lifetimes). The acquisition speed of STELLARIS FALCON FLIM allows the following of fast biological processes with FLIM contrast. This is particularly important in Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) experiments and to monitor changes in a microenvironment using biosensors. FALCON is compatible with STELLARIS, STELLARIS STED, and STELLARIS DIVE. The pulsed white light lasers of STELLARIS offer expanded spectral flexibility on the excitation side. At the same time, STELLARIS FALCON FLIM offers FLIM with full spectral flexibility on the detection side, in descanned and non-descanned modes. FLIM can be acquired by four spectral detection channels simultaneously, and Power HyD® X detectors can be combined to increase the photon flux without having problems of pulse pile-up (overrepresentation of short lifetimes) typical of standard Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) electronics. The concept in STELLARIS FALCON FLIM data acquisition and the fast electronics with very short dead time allow FLIM measurements with up to 1 photon per pulse. The short dead time and the speed of acquisition are given by Leica's innovative electronics and by the Leica Power HyD® X and Power HyD® R detectors, offering very fast response times and very low dark counts. FALCON enables users to follow fast molecular interactions via FLIM-FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer). Lifetime contrast can be applied to separate multiple fluorophores.