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Optical Coupling Gels

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Cameron Nowell

Optical Coupling Gels

Hi List,

Has anyone had any experience in using optical gels? We are looking at imaging lymphatic vessels in a mouse tail (still attached to a live mouse) and eventually lymph nodes with our two photon system. The scope is fitted with a 20x water immersion lens (NA 0.95) but we don’t want to submerge the whole tissue. So ideally we need a thick gel that has the same RI of water and won’t damage the objective.

I found one paper (Rothstein et al.) that use sorbitol gelled with carbomer 940 to create a gel with a refractive index similar to water. Is there any other gels that anyone has used before? I was thinking of acrlyamide (polymerised) but cannot find the RI of it.

Cheers

Cam

Cameron J. Nowell
Microscopy Manager
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria, 3050
AUSTRALIA

Office: +61 3 9341 3155
Mobile: +61422882700
Fax: +61 3 9341 3104

Facility Website

This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd does not waiver any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.

Stephen Cody-2

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Dear Cam,

Martin Harris (formerly OptiScan now BioPhotonics Australia) used KY jelly for this purpose. Only warning would be if you were using it internally on exposed tissue of the mouse you should make it isotonic. But it should be fine on the skin of a mouse. I shouldn't imagine there would be anything in it to damage the lens either.

All the best,
Steve Cody

Stephen H. Cody
Imaging Research Fellow & Manager
Monash Micro Imaging – AMREP
6 Floor Burnet Tower
Alfred Medical Research & Education Precinct
89 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Australia, 3004
Phone (Monash): (613) 990 30142
Phone (BakerIDI): (613) 8532 1580

Cameron Nowell wrote:

Hi List,

Has anyone had any experience in using optical gels? We are looking at imaging lymphatic vessels in a mouse tail (still attached to a live mouse) and eventually lymph nodes with our two photon system. The scope is fitted with a 20x water immersion lens (NA 0.95) but we don’t want to submerge the whole tissue. So ideally we need a thick gel that has the same RI of water and won’t damage the objective.

I found one paper (Rothstein et al.) that use sorbitol gelled with carbomer 940 to create a gel with a refractive index similar to water. Is there any other gels that anyone has used before? I was thinking of acrlyamide (polymerised) but cannot find the RI of it.

Cheers

Cam

Cameron J. Nowell
Microscopy Manager
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria, 3050
AUSTRALIA

Office: +61 3 9341 3155
Mobile: +61422882700
Fax: +61 3 9341 3104

Facility Website

This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd does not waiver any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.

Cameron Nowell

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Hi Steve,

That was one we are going to try and probably a lot easier than making polymer gels etc. What would be the easiest way to make it isotonic? Just add some conc saline solution to it?

Thanks

Cam

Cameron J. Nowell
Microscopy Manager
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria, 3050
AUSTRALIA

Office: +61 3 9341 3155
Mobile: +61422882700
Fax: +61 3 9341 3104

Facility Website

From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stephen Cody
Sent: Monday, 23 March 2009 3:20 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Hi List,

Cheers

Cam

Cameron J. Nowell
Microscopy Manager
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria, 3050
AUSTRALIA

Office: +61 3 9341 3155
Mobile: +61422882700
Fax: +61 3 9341 3104

Facility Website

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.23/2016 - Release Date: 03/22/09 17:51:00

Stephen Cody-2

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Cam,

I think making it isotonic is totally unnecessary when imaging through skin. Just use it as is.

If you did want to make it isotonic, I would try letting a "dollop" (International Scientific unit for KY Jelly) of it sit in excess isotonic saline (eg. pbs) for awhile (overnight?) and it should equilibrate to the saline. I don't know if it will dissolve into the saline.

If you decide to open up the mouse then I would just use a drop of saline (no ky), it will stay in place with surface tension. Sorry I couldn't work condoms into this method too.

Cheers

2009/3/23 Cameron Nowell <[hidden email]>

Hi Steve,

That was one we are going to try and probably a lot easier than making polymer gels etc. What would be the easiest way to make it isotonic? Just add some conc saline solution to it?

Thanks

Cam

Cameron J. Nowell
Microscopy Manager
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria, 3050
AUSTRALIA

Office: +61 3 9341 3155
Mobile: +61422882700
Fax: +61 3 9341 3104

Facility Website

From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stephen Cody
Sent: Monday, 23 March 2009 3:20 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Dear Cam,

Martin Harris (formerly OptiScan now BioPhotonics Australia) used KY jelly for this purpose. Only warning would be if you were using it internally on exposed tissue of the mouse you should make it isotonic. But it should be fine on the skin of a mouse. I shouldn't imagine there would be anything in it to damage the lens either.

All the best,
Steve Cody

Stephen H. Cody
Imaging Research Fellow & Manager
Monash Micro Imaging – AMREP
6 Floor Burnet Tower
Alfred Medical Research & Education Precinct
89 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Australia, 3004
Phone (Monash): (613) 990 30142
Phone (BakerIDI): (613) 8532 1580

Cameron Nowell wrote:

Hi List,

Has anyone had any experience in using optical gels? We are looking at imaging lymphatic vessels in a mouse tail (still attached to a live mouse) and eventually lymph nodes with our two photon system. The scope is fitted with a 20x water immersion lens (NA 0.95) but we don’t want to submerge the whole tissue. So ideally we need a thick gel that has the same RI of water and won’t damage the objective.

I found one paper (Rothstein et al.) that use sorbitol gelled with carbomer 940 to create a gel with a refractive index similar to water. Is there any other gels that anyone has used before? I was thinking of acrlyamide (polymerised) but cannot find the RI of it.

Cheers

Cam

Cameron J. Nowell
Microscopy Manager
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria, 3050
AUSTRALIA

Office: +61 3 9341 3155
Mobile: +61422882700
Fax: +61 3 9341 3104

Facility Website

This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd does not waiver any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.23/2016 - Release Date: 03/22/09 17:51:00

This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd does not waiver any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.

--
Stephen H. Cody
Consulting Microscopist

Guy Cox

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

In reply to this post by Cameron Nowell

I would have thought (given its intended use) that KY Jelly would be isotonic anyway.

Guy

Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
by Guy Cox    CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
    http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
______________________________________________
Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon)
Electron Microscope Unit, Madsen Building F09,
University of Sydney, NSW 2006
______________________________________________
Phone +61 2 9351 3176     Fax +61 2 9351 7682
Mobile 0413 281 861
______________________________________________
     http://www.guycox.net

From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Cameron Nowell
Sent: Monday, 23 March 2009 3:57 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Hi Steve,

That was one we are going to try and probably a lot easier than making polymer gels etc. What would be the easiest way to make it isotonic? Just add some conc saline solution to it?

Thanks

Cam

Cameron J. Nowell
Microscopy Manager
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria, 3050
AUSTRALIA

Office: +61 3 9341 3155
Mobile: +61422882700
Fax: +61 3 9341 3104

Facility Website

From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stephen Cody
Sent: Monday, 23 March 2009 3:20 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Hi List,

Cheers

Cam

Cameron J. Nowell
Microscopy Manager
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria, 3050
AUSTRALIA

Office: +61 3 9341 3155
Mobile: +61422882700
Fax: +61 3 9341 3104

Facility Website

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.23/2016 - Release Date: 03/22/09 17:51:00

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2017 - Release Date: 22/03/2009 5:51 PM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2017 - Release Date: 22/03/2009 5:51 PM

Steffen Dietzel

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

In reply to this post by Cameron Nowell

Hi Cam,

I had a respective problem on our multiphoton
microscope. Someone at last years FOM suggested
to use eye gel. So I ordered a collection of
various eye gels and Ultrasonic contact gels (is
that the English name for it?) from our pharmacy.
Price range: 2 - 5 Euro each, for the ultrasonic
gel this is for a 500 g bottle....

Inspired by a paper from Guy Cox, I used moss
from the lawn in front of the building (the snow
finally receded) as a test specimen (moss has no
air in the leaves, as have vascular plants),
first imaged in water for comparison. It turned
out that the eye gel brands I got had horrible
optical properties. But the Ultrasound contact
gel was not so bad. It even got better when I
diluted it 1:5 (or 1:10) in distilled water.

After finding empirically that it works, I
started looking for the ingredients. The material
data sheet (found on the web) stated it contains
25% 1,2 Propylenglycol, 74% water and 0.9%
"Pioneer NP 37". Futher Googleing revealed that
the later is a brand name for Na-Polyacrylat =
Carboxyvinyl-Polymere, a "Superabsorber"

For Propylenglycol, I found an Ri of 1.432 on the
web. For Na-Polyacrylat, I didn't find the Ri, so
I ignored it. Assuming I just can obtain the Ri
for my 1:5 dilution of the Gel (i.e. 5%
Propylenglycol in water) by calculation
(0.05*1.432 + 0.95*1.333), it is 1.338 and thus
not so very much different from water itself (I
know, I know, but I am not going for the
diffraction barrier in my application). I found
one reference that says the Ri of bovine muscle
tissue is 1.382 (Dircks JJ et al, J Biomed Opt.
2005, 10:44014), so what the sample is doing to
the optical path is probably much worse than what
this diluted gel is doing. (Makes me wonder if we
should ask companies for objektives made for that
Ri). Anyway, I am aware that this is a pretty
crude calculation with errors and unsubstantiated
assumptions, but the point is, I get images which fullfill the needs we have.

A note of caution: I use this now for a few weeks
only, so my practical experience is limited. the
1:5 dilution still slowly flows away, but at a
speed such that it is not a problem to "refill" in time.

I don't think you will get this particular brand
in Australia, but just for completeness the details:
Ultraschall-Kontakt-Gel Wasserfuhr, from Caesar & Loretz, D-40721 Hilden.

Diluting the Gel in 0.9 NaCl is not working:
Apparently the ions lead to a structural break-down of the gel.

And another note: Zeiss is selling something
called "Immersol W" which is supposed to be
viscous and have the Ri of water. No experience
with that one, I guess it can't beat the price of the Ultrasonic gel, though.

Let us know if you find alternatives.

Steffen

At 23:37 22.03.2009, you wrote:

>Hi List,
>
>Has anyone had any experience in using optical
>gels? We are looking at imaging lymphatic
>vessels in a mouse tail (still attached to a
>live mouse) and eventually lymph nodes with our
>two photon system. The scope is fitted with a
>20x water immersion lens (NA 0.95) but we dont
>want to submerge the whole tissue. So ideally we
>need a thick gel that has the same RI of water and wont damage the objective.
>
> I found one paper (Rothstein et al.) that use
> sorbitol gelled with carbomer 940 to create a
> gel with a refractive index similar to water.
> Is there any other gels that anyone has used
> before? I was thinking of acrlyamide
> (polymerised) but cannot find the RI of it.
>
>
>Cheers
>
>
>Cam
>
>
>Cameron J. Nowell
>Microscopy Manager
>Centre for Advanced Microscopy
>Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
>PO Box 2008
>Royal Melbourne Hospital
>Victoria, 3050
>AUSTRALIA
>Office: +61 3 9341 3155
>Mobile: +61422882700
>Fax: +61 3 9341 3104
><http://www.ludwig.edu.au/branch/research/platform/microscopy.htm>Facility
>Website
>
>
>
>----------
>This communication is intended only for the
>named recipient and may contain information that
>is confidential, legally privileged or subject
>to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer
>Research Ltd does not waiver any rights if you
>have received this communication in error.
>The views expressed in this communication are
>those of the sender and do not necessarily
>reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.

Zoltan

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Hi All,

We've been using the Zeiss Immersol W for more than a year now for overnight live cell experiments with water-immersion lenses and we are very happy with its stability, viscosity and optical properties. It's not as cheap as the gel probably, we paid £57 for 20 mL; here are the order details in case you are interested:

Zeiss Immersion Medium "Immersol" W, 20ml in oiler

FF5000000-1252-136

Zeiss UK

£ 57.00

"And another note: Zeiss is selling something called "Immersol W" which is supposed to be viscous and have the Ri of water. No experience with that one, I guess it can't beat the price of the Ultrasonic gel, though."

Zoltan

On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 10:38 AM, Steffen Dietzel <[hidden email]> wrote:

Hi Cam,

I had a respective problem on our multiphoton microscope. Someone at last years FOM suggested to use eye gel. So I ordered a collection of various eye gels and Ultrasonic contact gels (is that the English name for it?) from our pharmacy. Price range: 2 - 5 Euro each, for the ultrasonic gel this is for a 500 g bottle....

Inspired by a paper from Guy Cox, I used moss from the lawn in front of the building (the snow finally receded) as a test specimen (moss has no air in the leaves, as have vascular plants), first imaged in water for comparison. It turned out that the eye gel brands I got had horrible optical properties. But the Ultrasound contact gel was not so bad. It even got better when I diluted it 1:5 (or 1:10) in distilled water.

After finding empirically that it works, I started looking for the ingredients. The material data sheet (found on the web) stated it contains 25% 1,2 Propylenglycol, 74% water and 0.9% "Pioneer NP 37". Futher Googleing revealed that the later is a brand name for Na-Polyacrylat = Carboxyvinyl-Polymere, a "Superabsorber"

For Propylenglycol, I found an Ri of 1.432 on the web. For Na-Polyacrylat, I didn't find the Ri, so I ignored it. Assuming I just can obtain the Ri for my 1:5 dilution of the Gel (i.e. 5% Propylenglycol in water) by calculation (0.05*1.432 + 0.95*1.333), it is 1.338 and thus not so very much different from water itself (I know, I know, but I am not going for the diffraction barrier in my application). I found one reference that says the Ri of bovine muscle tissue is 1.382 (Dircks JJ et al, J Biomed Opt. 2005, 10:44014), so what the sample is doing to the optical path is probably much worse than what this diluted gel is doing. (Makes me wonder if we should ask companies for objektives made for that Ri). Anyway, I am aware that this is a pretty crude calculation with errors and unsubstantiated assumptions, but the point is, I get images which fullfill the needs we have.

A note of caution: I use this now for a few weeks only, so my practical experience is limited. the 1:5 dilution still slowly flows away, but at a speed such that it is not a problem to "refill" in time.

I don't think you will get this particular brand in Australia, but just for completeness the details:
Ultraschall-Kontakt-Gel Wasserfuhr, from Caesar & Loretz, D-40721 Hilden.

Diluting the Gel in 0.9 NaCl is not working: Apparently the ions lead to a structural break-down of the gel.

And another note: Zeiss is selling something called "Immersol W" which is supposed to be viscous and have the Ri of water. No experience with that one, I guess it can't beat the price of the Ultrasonic gel, though.

Let us know if you find alternatives.

Steffen

At 23:37 22.03.2009, you wrote:

Hi List,

Has anyone had any experience in using optical gels? We are looking at imaging lymphatic vessels in a mouse tail (still attached to a live mouse) and eventually lymph nodes with our two photon system. The scope is fitted with a 20x water immersion lens (NA 0.95) but we don’t want to submerge the whole tissue. So ideally we need a thick gel that has the same RI of water and won’t damage the objective.

I found one paper (Rothstein et al.) that use sorbitol gelled with carbomer 940 to create a gel with a refractive index similar to water. Is there any other gels that anyone has used before? I was thinking of acrlyamide (polymerised) but cannot find the RI of it.

Cheers

Cam

Cameron J. Nowell
Microscopy Manager
Centre for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Victoria, 3050
AUSTRALIA
Office: +61 3 9341 3155
Mobile: +61422882700
Fax: +61 3 9341 3104
<http://www.ludwig.edu.au/branch/research/platform/microscopy.htm>Facility Website

----------
This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd does not waiver any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex)
Head of light microscopy

Mail room (for letters etc.):
Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 München

Building location and address for courier, parcel services etc:
Marchioninistr. 27, D-81377 München (Großhadern)

Phone: +49/89/2180-76509
Fax-to-email: +49/89/2180-9976509
skype: steffendietzel
e-mail: [hidden email]

--

Zoltan Cseresnyes
Facility manager, Imaging Suite
University of Cambridge, UK

Cameron Nowell

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

In reply to this post by Steffen Dietzel

Hi All,

Thanks for all the responses. Looks like it is time to lube up the objective and......

I have got hold of some Ultrasound gel from the hospital here. The stuff i have is a pale blue colour. Is this like the stuff you have Steffen?

Cheers

Cam

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Steffen Dietzel
Sent: Monday, 23 March 2009 9:38 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Hi Cam,

I had a respective problem on our multiphoton
microscope. Someone at last years FOM suggested
to use eye gel. So I ordered a collection of
various eye gels and Ultrasonic contact gels (is
that the English name for it?) from our pharmacy.
Price range: 2 - 5 Euro each, for the ultrasonic
gel this is for a 500 g bottle....

Inspired by a paper from Guy Cox, I used moss
from the lawn in front of the building (the snow
finally receded) as a test specimen (moss has no
air in the leaves, as have vascular plants),
first imaged in water for comparison. It turned
out that the eye gel brands I got had horrible
optical properties. But the Ultrasound contact
gel was not so bad. It even got better when I
diluted it 1:5 (or 1:10) in distilled water.

After finding empirically that it works, I
started looking for the ingredients. The material
data sheet (found on the web) stated it contains
25% 1,2 Propylenglycol, 74% water and 0.9%
"Pioneer NP 37". Futher Googleing revealed that
the later is a brand name for Na-Polyacrylat =
Carboxyvinyl-Polymere, a "Superabsorber"

For Propylenglycol, I found an Ri of 1.432 on the
web. For Na-Polyacrylat, I didn't find the Ri, so
I ignored it. Assuming I just can obtain the Ri
for my 1:5 dilution of the Gel (i.e. 5%
Propylenglycol in water) by calculation
(0.05*1.432 + 0.95*1.333), it is 1.338 and thus
not so very much different from water itself (I
know, I know, but I am not going for the
diffraction barrier in my application). I found
one reference that says the Ri of bovine muscle
tissue is 1.382 (Dircks JJ et al, J Biomed Opt.
2005, 10:44014), so what the sample is doing to
the optical path is probably much worse than what
this diluted gel is doing. (Makes me wonder if we
should ask companies for objektives made for that
Ri). Anyway, I am aware that this is a pretty
crude calculation with errors and unsubstantiated
assumptions, but the point is, I get images which fullfill the needs we have.

A note of caution: I use this now for a few weeks
only, so my practical experience is limited. the
1:5 dilution still slowly flows away, but at a
speed such that it is not a problem to "refill" in time.

I don't think you will get this particular brand
in Australia, but just for completeness the details:
Ultraschall-Kontakt-Gel Wasserfuhr, from Caesar & Loretz, D-40721 Hilden.

Diluting the Gel in 0.9 NaCl is not working:
Apparently the ions lead to a structural break-down of the gel.

And another note: Zeiss is selling something
called "Immersol W" which is supposed to be
viscous and have the Ri of water. No experience
with that one, I guess it can't beat the price of the Ultrasonic gel, though.

Let us know if you find alternatives.

Steffen

At 23:37 22.03.2009, you wrote:

>Hi List,
>
>Has anyone had any experience in using optical
>gels? We are looking at imaging lymphatic
>vessels in a mouse tail (still attached to a
>live mouse) and eventually lymph nodes with our
>two photon system. The scope is fitted with a
>20x water immersion lens (NA 0.95) but we don't
>want to submerge the whole tissue. So ideally we
>need a thick gel that has the same RI of water and won't damage the objective.
>
> I found one paper (Rothstein et al.) that use
> sorbitol gelled with carbomer 940 to create a
> gel with a refractive index similar to water.
> Is there any other gels that anyone has used
> before? I was thinking of acrlyamide
> (polymerised) but cannot find the RI of it.
>
>
>Cheers
>
>
>Cam
>
>
>Cameron J. Nowell
>Microscopy Manager
>Centre for Advanced Microscopy
>Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
>PO Box 2008
>Royal Melbourne Hospital
>Victoria, 3050
>AUSTRALIA
>Office: +61 3 9341 3155
>Mobile: +61422882700
>Fax: +61 3 9341 3104
><http://www.ludwig.edu.au/branch/research/platform/microscopy.htm>Facility
>Website
>
>
>
>----------
>This communication is intended only for the
>named recipient and may contain information that
>is confidential, legally privileged or subject
>to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer
>Research Ltd does not waiver any rights if you
>have received this communication in error.
>The views expressed in this communication are
>those of the sender and do not necessarily
>reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex)
Head of light microscopy

Mail room (for letters etc.):
Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 München

Building location and address for courier, parcel services etc:
Marchioninistr. 27, D-81377 München (Großhadern)

Phone: +49/89/2180-76509
Fax-to-email: +49/89/2180-9976509
skype: steffendietzel
e-mail: [hidden email]

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2017 - Release Date: 03/22/09 17:51:00

This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd does not waiver any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.

Steffen Dietzel

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

At 02:50 24.03.2009, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>Thanks for all the responses. Looks like it is
>time to lube up the objective and......
>
>I have got hold of some Ultrasound gel from the
>hospital here. The stuff i have is a pale blue
>colour. Is this like the stuff you have Steffen?

Nope. Our hospital has two kinds, the "normal"
one to which my previous post applies is
colorless. They also have another one,
extra-viscous, which is blue. But when I saw on
the label of the blue one that it contains 80%
Glycerol, I didn't even try that. No idea whether
this is some kind of international color code or
whether it changes from one block to the next.
Alternatively, you may be able to mix it
yourself: Order 1,2 Propylenglycol and extract
the superabsorber from a disposable diaper (unused)....

BTW, apparently KY-Jelly is a brand better known
in some countries than in others, anyway I had to
look it up. The respective Wikipedia article says
"K-Y Jelly's original stated purpose was as a
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_lubricant>surgical
lubricant, and it was often chosen by doctors
because of its natural base. " I didn't even know
that surgical lubricants exist, but if such a
thing is still in use today, it might also be an
alternative for immersion. 'Ask your local doctor
or pharmacist if you have any questions or
concerns about using this medicine...'

Happy lubricating

Steffen

>Cheers
>
>
>Cam

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex)
Head of light microscopy

Mail room (for letters etc.):
Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 München

Building location and address for courier, parcel services etc:
Marchioninistr. 27, D-81377 München (Großhadern)

Phone: +49/89/2180-76509
Fax-to-email: +49/89/2180-9976509

Guy Cox

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

KY jelly is used mostly as a sexual rather than surgical lubricant, but its function is the same in both cases.

I'm sure an equivalent product can be found in any pharmacy. It'll be next to the condoms.

Guy

Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
by Guy Cox CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
______________________________________________
Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon)
Electron Microscope Unit, Madsen Building F09,
University of Sydney, NSW 2006
______________________________________________
Phone +61 2 9351 3176 Fax +61 2 9351 7682
Mobile 0413 281 861
______________________________________________
http://www.guycox.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Steffen Dietzel
Sent: Tuesday, 24 March 2009 8:39 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

At 02:50 24.03.2009, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>Thanks for all the responses. Looks like it is time to lube up the
>objective and......
>
>I have got hold of some Ultrasound gel from the hospital here. The
>stuff i have is a pale blue colour. Is this like the stuff you have
>Steffen?

Nope. Our hospital has two kinds, the "normal"
one to which my previous post applies is colorless. They also have another one, extra-viscous, which is blue. But when I saw on the label of the blue one that it contains 80% Glycerol, I didn't even try that. No idea whether this is some kind of international color code or whether it changes from one block to the next.
Alternatively, you may be able to mix it
yourself: Order 1,2 Propylenglycol and extract the superabsorber from a disposable diaper (unused)....

BTW, apparently KY-Jelly is a brand better known in some countries than in others, anyway I had to look it up. The respective Wikipedia article says "K-Y Jelly's original stated purpose was as a <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_lubricant>surgical
lubricant, and it was often chosen by doctors because of its natural base. " I didn't even know that surgical lubricants exist, but if such a thing is still in use today, it might also be an alternative for immersion. 'Ask your local doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine...'

Happy lubricating

Steffen

>Cheers
>
>
>Cam

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex) Head of light microscopy

Mail room (for letters etc.):
Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 München

Building location and address for courier, parcel services etc:
Marchioninistr. 27, D-81377 München (Großhadern)

Phone: +49/89/2180-76509
Fax-to-email: +49/89/2180-9976509

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

Sally_Dowling

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

In reply to this post by Cameron Nowell

Another one for 1st thing in the morning
Sally Dowling, PhD
Technical sales
BD Bioimaging
301-351-0524
www.bd.com/bioimaging

----- Original Message -----
From: Steffen Dietzel [[hidden email]]
Sent: 03/24/2009 10:39 AM CET
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

At 02:50 24.03.2009, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>Thanks for all the responses. Looks like it is
>time to lube up the objective and......
>
>I have got hold of some Ultrasound gel from the
>hospital here. The stuff i have is a pale blue
>colour. Is this like the stuff you have Steffen?

Nope. Our hospital has two kinds, the "normal"
one to which my previous post applies is
colorless. They also have another one,
extra-viscous, which is blue. But when I saw on
the label of the blue one that it contains 80%
Glycerol, I didn't even try that. No idea whether
this is some kind of international color code or
whether it changes from one block to the next.
Alternatively, you may be able to mix it
yourself: Order 1,2 Propylenglycol and extract
the superabsorber from a disposable diaper (unused)....

BTW, apparently KY-Jelly is a brand better known
in some countries than in others, anyway I had to
look it up. The respective Wikipedia article says
"K-Y Jelly's original stated purpose was as a
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_lubricant>surgical
lubricant, and it was often chosen by doctors
because of its natural base. " I didn't even know
that surgical lubricants exist, but if such a
thing is still in use today, it might also be an
alternative for immersion. 'Ask your local doctor
or pharmacist if you have any questions or
concerns about using this medicine...'

Happy lubricating

Steffen

>Cheers
>
>
>Cam

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex)
Head of light microscopy

Mail room (for letters etc.):
Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 München

Building location and address for courier, parcel services etc:
Marchioninistr. 27, D-81377 München (Großhadern)

Phone: +49/89/2180-76509
Fax-to-email: +49/89/2180-9976509
-----------------------------------------
*******************************************************************
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR RECIPIENTS IN THE
U.S.A.:
This message may constitute an advertisement of
a BD group's products or services or a
solicitation of interest in them. If this is
such a message and you would like to opt out of
receiving future advertisements or
solicitations from this BD group, please
forward this e-mail to [hidden email].
*******************************************************************
This message (which includes any attachments)
is intended only for the designated
recipient(s). It may contain confidential or
proprietary information and may be subject to
the attorney-client
privilege or other confidentiality protections.
If you are not a designated recipient, you may
not review, use, copy or distribute this
message. If you received this in error, please
notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete
this message. Thank you.
*******************************************************************
Corporate Headquarters Mailing Address: BD
(Becton, Dickinson and Company) 1 Becton Drive
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 U.S.A.
*******************************************************************

simon walker (BI)

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

In reply to this post by Guy Cox

Is this to combine with Stephen Cody's "special" technique? It could raise some eyebrows with lab shelves stocked with these items..
Simon

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Guy Cox
Sent: 24 March 2009 09:48
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

KY jelly is used mostly as a sexual rather than surgical lubricant, but its function is the same in both cases.

I'm sure an equivalent product can be found in any pharmacy. It'll be next to the condoms.

Guy

Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
by Guy Cox CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
______________________________________________
Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon)
Electron Microscope Unit, Madsen Building F09,
University of Sydney, NSW 2006
______________________________________________
Phone +61 2 9351 3176 Fax +61 2 9351 7682
Mobile 0413 281 861
______________________________________________
http://www.guycox.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Steffen Dietzel
Sent: Tuesday, 24 March 2009 8:39 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

At 02:50 24.03.2009, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>Thanks for all the responses. Looks like it is time to lube up the
>objective and......
>
>I have got hold of some Ultrasound gel from the hospital here. The
>stuff i have is a pale blue colour. Is this like the stuff you have
>Steffen?

Nope. Our hospital has two kinds, the "normal"
one to which my previous post applies is colorless. They also have another one, extra-viscous, which is blue. But when I saw on the label of the blue one that it contains 80% Glycerol, I didn't even try that. No idea whether this is some kind of international color code or whether it changes from one block to the next.
Alternatively, you may be able to mix it
yourself: Order 1,2 Propylenglycol and extract the superabsorber from a disposable diaper (unused)....

BTW, apparently KY-Jelly is a brand better known in some countries than in others, anyway I had to look it up. The respective Wikipedia article says "K-Y Jelly's original stated purpose was as a <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_lubricant>surgical
lubricant, and it was often chosen by doctors because of its natural base. " I didn't even know that surgical lubricants exist, but if such a thing is still in use today, it might also be an alternative for immersion. 'Ask your local doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine...'

Happy lubricating

Steffen

>Cheers
>
>
>Cam

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex) Head of light microscopy

Mail room (for letters etc.):
Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 München

Building location and address for courier, parcel services etc:
Marchioninistr. 27, D-81377 München (Großhadern)

Phone: +49/89/2180-76509
Fax-to-email: +49/89/2180-9976509

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

Sally_Dowling

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

In reply to this post by Cameron Nowell

Sorry, didn't mean to reply to group, too early for me to get a good chuckle from the banter, perhaps!
Apologies, sally
Sally Dowling, PhD
Technical sales
BD Bioimaging
301-351-0524
www.bd.com/bioimaging

----- Original Message -----
From: Sally_Dowling
Sent: 03/24/2009 12:22 PM CET
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Another one for 1st thing in the morning
Sally Dowling, PhD
Technical sales
BD Bioimaging
301-351-0524
www.bd.com/bioimaging

----- Original Message -----
From: Steffen Dietzel [[hidden email]]
Sent: 03/24/2009 10:39 AM CET
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

At 02:50 24.03.2009, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>Thanks for all the responses. Looks like it is
>time to lube up the objective and......
>
>I have got hold of some Ultrasound gel from the
>hospital here. The stuff i have is a pale blue
>colour. Is this like the stuff you have Steffen?

Nope. Our hospital has two kinds, the "normal"
one to which my previous post applies is
colorless. They also have another one,
extra-viscous, which is blue. But when I saw on
the label of the blue one that it contains 80%
Glycerol, I didn't even try that. No idea whether
this is some kind of international color code or
whether it changes from one block to the next.
Alternatively, you may be able to mix it
yourself: Order 1,2 Propylenglycol and extract
the superabsorber from a disposable diaper (unused)....

BTW, apparently KY-Jelly is a brand better known
in some countries than in others, anyway I had to
look it up. The respective Wikipedia article says
"K-Y Jelly's original stated purpose was as a
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_lubricant>surgical
lubricant, and it was often chosen by doctors
because of its natural base. " I didn't even know
that surgical lubricants exist, but if such a
thing is still in use today, it might also be an
alternative for immersion. 'Ask your local doctor
or pharmacist if you have any questions or
concerns about using this medicine...'

Happy lubricating

Steffen

>Cheers
>
>
>Cam

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex)
Head of light microscopy

Mail room (for letters etc.):
Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 München

Building location and address for courier, parcel services etc:
Marchioninistr. 27, D-81377 München (Großhadern)

Phone: +49/89/2180-76509
Fax-to-email: +49/89/2180-9976509
-----------------------------------------
*******************************************************************
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR RECIPIENTS IN THE
U.S.A.:
This message may constitute an advertisement of
a BD group's products or services or a
solicitation of interest in them. If this is
such a message and you would like to opt out of
receiving future advertisements or
solicitations from this BD group, please
forward this e-mail to [hidden email].
*******************************************************************
This message (which includes any attachments)
is intended only for the designated
recipient(s). It may contain confidential or
proprietary information and may be subject to
the attorney-client
privilege or other confidentiality protections.
If you are not a designated recipient, you may
not review, use, copy or distribute this
message. If you received this in error, please
notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete
this message. Thank you.
*******************************************************************
Corporate Headquarters Mailing Address: BD
(Becton, Dickinson and Company) 1 Becton Drive
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 U.S.A.
*******************************************************************

Guy Cox

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

In reply to this post by simon walker (BI)

Actually I've never used Stephen's condom technique, but we use KY jelly all the time in plant physiology. You can seal a chamber to a leaf with it to measure gas exchange, for example, and just rinse it off afterwards. But a bottle lasts a long time (much longer than one used as intended!) so there's not much embarrassment factor involved. I'd never thought to check its optical properties. As I said before, since it's intended for use in body cavities I'd have thought it should be close to isotonic, but I don't know.

Guy

Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
by Guy Cox CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
______________________________________________
Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon)
Electron Microscope Unit, Madsen Building F09,
University of Sydney, NSW 2006
______________________________________________
Phone +61 2 9351 3176 Fax +61 2 9351 7682
Mobile 0413 281 861
______________________________________________
http://www.guycox.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of simon walker (BI)
Sent: Tuesday, 24 March 2009 10:37 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Is this to combine with Stephen Cody's "special" technique? It could raise some eyebrows with lab shelves stocked with these items..
Simon

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Guy Cox
Sent: 24 March 2009 09:48
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

KY jelly is used mostly as a sexual rather than surgical lubricant, but its function is the same in both cases.

I'm sure an equivalent product can be found in any pharmacy. It'll be next to the condoms.

Guy

Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
by Guy Cox CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
______________________________________________
Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon) Electron Microscope Unit, Madsen Building F09, University of Sydney, NSW 2006 ______________________________________________
Phone +61 2 9351 3176 Fax +61 2 9351 7682
Mobile 0413 281 861
______________________________________________
http://www.guycox.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Steffen Dietzel
Sent: Tuesday, 24 March 2009 8:39 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

At 02:50 24.03.2009, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>Thanks for all the responses. Looks like it is time to lube up the
>objective and......
>
>I have got hold of some Ultrasound gel from the hospital here. The
>stuff i have is a pale blue colour. Is this like the stuff you have
>Steffen?

Nope. Our hospital has two kinds, the "normal"
one to which my previous post applies is colorless. They also have another one, extra-viscous, which is blue. But when I saw on the label of the blue one that it contains 80% Glycerol, I didn't even try that. No idea whether this is some kind of international color code or whether it changes from one block to the next.
Alternatively, you may be able to mix it
yourself: Order 1,2 Propylenglycol and extract the superabsorber from a disposable diaper (unused)....

BTW, apparently KY-Jelly is a brand better known in some countries than in others, anyway I had to look it up. The respective Wikipedia article says "K-Y Jelly's original stated purpose was as a <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_lubricant>surgical
lubricant, and it was often chosen by doctors because of its natural base. " I didn't even know that surgical lubricants exist, but if such a thing is still in use today, it might also be an alternative for immersion. 'Ask your local doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine...'

Happy lubricating

Steffen

>Cheers
>
>
>Cam

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex) Head of light microscopy

Mail room (for letters etc.):
Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 München

Building location and address for courier, parcel services etc:
Marchioninistr. 27, D-81377 München (Großhadern)

Phone: +49/89/2180-76509
Fax-to-email: +49/89/2180-9976509

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

Cameron Nowell

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Hi Again List,

Yesterday we tried some KY and some ultrasound gel (non-blue version) with great success. Mangaged to image lymphatic vessels in the mouse tail without any real problems (other than geting the mouse where wewanted it). The KY was a bit to runny and didn't stay on the sample for very long. The ultrasound gel worked really well, though the image was a bit fuzzy. I am thinking this is probably due to bubbles in the gel. For those that have used ultrasound gel have you tried degassing it to get rid of small bubbles?

Cheers

Cam

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Guy Cox
Sent: Tuesday, 24 March 2009 11:02 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Actually I've never used Stephen's condom technique, but we use KY jelly all the time in plant physiology. You can seal a chamber to a leaf with it to measure gas exchange, for example, and just rinse it off afterwards. But a bottle lasts a long time (much longer than one used as intended!) so there's not much embarrassment factor involved. I'd never thought to check its optical properties. As I said before, since it's intended for use in body cavities I'd have thought it should be close to isotonic, but I don't know.

Guy

Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
by Guy Cox CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
______________________________________________
Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon)
Electron Microscope Unit, Madsen Building F09,
University of Sydney, NSW 2006
______________________________________________
Phone +61 2 9351 3176 Fax +61 2 9351 7682
Mobile 0413 281 861
______________________________________________
http://www.guycox.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of simon walker (BI)
Sent: Tuesday, 24 March 2009 10:37 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

Is this to combine with Stephen Cody's "special" technique? It could raise some eyebrows with lab shelves stocked with these items..
Simon

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Guy Cox
Sent: 24 March 2009 09:48
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

KY jelly is used mostly as a sexual rather than surgical lubricant, but its function is the same in both cases.

I'm sure an equivalent product can be found in any pharmacy. It'll be next to the condoms.

Guy

Optical Imaging Techniques in Cell Biology
by Guy Cox CRC Press / Taylor & Francis
http://www.guycox.com/optical.htm
______________________________________________
Associate Professor Guy Cox, MA, DPhil(Oxon) Electron Microscope Unit, Madsen Building F09, University of Sydney, NSW 2006 ______________________________________________
Phone +61 2 9351 3176 Fax +61 2 9351 7682
Mobile 0413 281 861
______________________________________________
http://www.guycox.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Steffen Dietzel
Sent: Tuesday, 24 March 2009 8:39 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Optical Coupling Gels

At 02:50 24.03.2009, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>Thanks for all the responses. Looks like it is time to lube up the
>objective and......
>
>I have got hold of some Ultrasound gel from the hospital here. The
>stuff i have is a pale blue colour. Is this like the stuff you have
>Steffen?

Nope. Our hospital has two kinds, the "normal"
one to which my previous post applies is colorless. They also have another one, extra-viscous, which is blue. But when I saw on the label of the blue one that it contains 80% Glycerol, I didn't even try that. No idea whether this is some kind of international color code or whether it changes from one block to the next.
Alternatively, you may be able to mix it
yourself: Order 1,2 Propylenglycol and extract the superabsorber from a disposable diaper (unused)....

BTW, apparently KY-Jelly is a brand better known in some countries than in others, anyway I had to look it up. The respective Wikipedia article says "K-Y Jelly's original stated purpose was as a <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_lubricant>surgical
lubricant, and it was often chosen by doctors because of its natural base. " I didn't even know that surgical lubricants exist, but if such a thing is still in use today, it might also be an alternative for immersion. 'Ask your local doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine...'

Happy lubricating

Steffen

>Cheers
>
>
>Cam

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex) Head of light microscopy

Mail room (for letters etc.):
Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 München

Building location and address for courier, parcel services etc:
Marchioninistr. 27, D-81377 München (Großhadern)

Phone: +49/89/2180-76509
Fax-to-email: +49/89/2180-9976509

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.24/2018 - Release Date: 23/03/2009 6:52 AM

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.27/2021 - Release Date: 03/24/09 16:00:00

This communication is intended only for the named recipient and may contain information that is confidential, legally privileged or subject to copyright; the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd does not waiver any rights if you have received this communication in error.
The views expressed in this communication are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.

Steffen Dietzel

Re: Optical Coupling Gels

At 23:02 25.03.2009, you wrote:

>Hi Again List,
>
>Yesterday we tried some KY and some ultrasound
>gel (non-blue version) with great success.
>Mangaged to image lymphatic vessels in the mouse
>tail without any real problems (other than
>geting the mouse where wewanted it). The KY was
>a bit to runny and didn't stay on the sample for
>very long. The ultrasound gel worked really
>well, though the image was a bit fuzzy. I am
>thinking this is probably due to bubbles in the
>gel. For those that have used ultrasound gel
>have you tried degassing it to get rid of small bubbles?

Cam,

glad to hear it works for you! I did it this way:
20 ml water in 50 ml plastic tube, add 5 ml
U-Gel, Vortex rigorously, and then either let it
stand over night or centrifuge for 5 min in the
cell culture centrifuge. In the centrifuge, I got
rid of all bubles (introduced during vortexing)
in <5min. They didn't reappear afterwards.

I saw a very noticeable difference in optical
quality comparing U-Gel itself with a 1:5
dilution in water, which might be considered "fuzzy".

Steffen

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex)
Head of light microscopy

Mail room (for letters etc.):
Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 München

Building location and address for courier, parcel services etc:
Marchioninistr. 27, D-81377 München (Großhadern)

Phone: +49/89/2180-76509
Fax-to-email: +49/89/2180-9976509