The LIFA is a camera-based fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy system that can be easily combined with the HSi hyperspectral unit of Gooch & Housego. Acquiring lifetimes at a range of wavelengths opens up the possibility to spectrally resolve multi-component lifetime distributions into their lifetime components.
The LIFA is a camera-based fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy system that can be easily combined with the HSi hyperspectral unit of Gooch & Housego. Acquiring lifetimes at a range of wavelengths opens up the possibility to spectrally resolve multi-component lifetime distributions into their lifetime components.
Moreover spectrally resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy allows one to track both the donor and acceptor molecules in FRET experiments, and enables the observation of a range of spectroscopic changes invisible to a standard fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy system. The addition of polarizers further enables the detailed anisotropy characterisation required in diffusion studies.
The widefield configuration includes the new Multi-LED modulated light source. Its high-power LEDs can be modulated in a broad frequency range, resulting in good lifetime sensitivity and high accuracy.
The LIFA is compatible with Leica, Nikon, Olympus, TILL and Zeiss fluorescence microscopes.
Fast fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, up to two lifetime images per second
Non-phototoxic illumination offered by the Multi-LED (NEW)
Lifetime sensitivity 0-300 ns
Lifetime accuracy 30 ps r.m.s.
High quantum efficiency with the optional Gen III GaAs intensifier
Full control of the HSi unit from LI-FLIM
FRET efficiency mapping
Polar (Phasor) plot inspection and separation of multiple lifetimes
Export to Metamorph, ImageJ, Matlab
Images can be exported as BMP, TIFF
Statistics and histograms can be exported as MS Excel files
Lambert Instruments provides the following LIFA models, which cover a wide range in spectral sensitivity and in lifetime sensitivity. Each model is based on a specific high-resolution Gen II or Gen III image intensifier, see also our fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy properties of modulated intensifiers document.
Model | Photocathode | Modulation frequency | Lifetime sensitivity |
| LIFA Gen II S20 | S20 | 1-120 MHz | 0-300 ns |
| LIFA Gen II S25 | S25 | 1-120 MHz | 0-300 ns |
| LIFA Gen III GaAs | GaAs | 1-120 MHz | 0-300 ns |
| LIFA X Gen II S20 | S20 | 0-100 kHz, 1-120 MHz | 0 ns - 1 ms |
| LIFA X Gen II S25 | S25 | 0-100 kHz, 1-120 MHz | 0 ns - 1 ms |
| LIFA X Gen III GaAs | GaAs | 0-100 kHz, 1-120 MHz | 0 ns - 1 ms |
| LIFA P Gen II S20 | S20 | 0-100 kHz | 100 ns - 1 ms |
| LIFA P Gen II S25 | S25 | 0-100 kHz | 100 ns - 1 ms |
| LIFA P Gen III GaAs | GaAs | 0-100 kHz | 100 ns - 1 ms |
| LIFA P Gen III GaAsP | GaAsP | 0-100 kHz | 100 ns - 1 ms |
Spectral sensivity as a function of wavelength for each of the photocathodes is shown below.
For more information, please refer to our technologies page on the operating principle of image intensifiers for lifetime imaging.
Nikon Ti Eclipse.
Prior Scientific ProScan III (Motorized stage system for automated FLIM acquisition at a series of user-defined XYZ positions.)
Mad City Labs Nano-F100 (Nanopositioning system, a z-stepper.)
The LIFA has the following applications:
Molecular interactions
Protein conformation
Biosensors
Oxygen concentration imaging in cells and tissue
NADH/FAD fluorescence dynamics
Viscosity imaging
Membrane dynamics
Membrane trafficking
LED inspection
Crude oil characterisation