Xite flashlights

Xite Portable Fluorescence Flashlight System

Xite Portable Fluorescence Flashlight System

View fluorescence in the lab or the field! The Xite™ Fluorescence Flashlight System includes single-wavelength fluorescence excitation flashlights available with any of the five wavelengths in the NIGHTSEA line, paired with matching barrier filter glasses for maximum viewing contrast. Genotyping your transgenic organisms, screening cell cultures, inspecting parts with fluorescent penetrants, finding fluorescing critters in the field, … the Xite line provides what you need.

Video introduction to the Xite flashlights

 

(Click any image for larger view)

 

Avoid confusion in wavelength selection

There are two common sources of confusion in regard to selecting the best NIGHTSEA wavelength option. Please read the points below to help in selecting the right system for your application.

  • Wavelength naming convention
    • We name and color code our systems by the excitation wavelength (color), not the expected emission color. So if you want to observe green fluorescence such as you expect from GFP, you do not want the Green (GR) system. Our Royal Blue (RB) is the recommended wavelength set for that. Refer to articles 1 and 3 in the list directly below.
  • NIGHTSEA wavelength recommendations versus excitation maxima from tables
    • Many users come to NIGHTSEA armed with a desired excitation wavelength that they have found in a table of fluorescence characteristics for various fluorophores. The systems that we recommend do not always correspond to these wavelength maxima found in tables. Rather, we are often exciting on the shoulder of the excitation spectrum. Again referring to GFP, the listed excitation maximum is at 488nm, which might lead you to think our Cyan (CY) light source, which emits primarily in the 490-515nm range, is the best option. Again, our Royal Blue (RB) systems are the better choice. Refer to articles 2 and 3 in the list below. The reasons for this are explained in this article.

Relevant articles

  1. Naming and color coding the NIGHTSEA wavelength options
  2. Excitation maxima vs excitation spectra
  3. Table of recommended wavelength sets for various fluorophores

 

Features

  • Tightly focused for a high intensity illumination spot
  • Two power levels plus unique flashing mode
  • Add-on diffuser for a broader, smoother beam
  • Each light paired with matching barrier filter glasses
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Rechargeable high capacity lithium ion battery
  • Battery level indication (when removed from flashlight and placed on charger)

 

Included with each system

  • Fluorescence excitation flashlight (your choice of one wavelength) with lanyard
  • Matching barrier filter glasses with microfiber case for storage and cleaning
  • Diffuser cap
  • High capacity lithium ion battery
  • Battery charger and USB charging cord
  • Instruction sheet
  • Padded foam shipping/carry/storage case

Xite system case

How to order

Order the Xite flashlight packages on the Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS) web site.

For technical questions or to request a quotation – contact NIGHTSEA

 

Diffuser

Add-on 15° diffuser cap provides a wider, softer beam

Flashing mode for enhanced detection in ambient light

As bright as fluorescence may appear when you use an intense light source to view it in conditions of darkness, in most cases it actually tends to be a relatively weak effect that is easily masked by other light. If you try to find fluorescence when there is moderate ambient light (room light, sunlight, …), any fluorescing subject will respond to the excitation, but the response may be too weak to notice easily.

But there’s a trick – by making the excitation light source blink repetitively (a strobe effect), any fluorescence will blink at the same rate, while the illuminated background will not. This flickering increases the apparent contrast and thus increases detectability.

Read more here …

 

Available wavelengths

Designation Excitation Barrier Filter Glasses
UV – Ultraviolet 360 – 380nm 415nm longpass
VI – Violet 400 – 415nm 450nm longpass
RB – Royal Blue 440 – 460nm 500nm longpass
RB-GO – Royal Blue, Green Only 440 – 460nm 500 – 560nm bandpass
CY – Cyan 490 – 515nm 550nm longpass
GR – Green 510 – 540nm 600nm longpass

 

 

Camera filter recommendations

If you want to use the Xite as a light source for fluorescence photography, we have prepared recommendations for compatible off-the-shelf camera filters.

 

Flashlight specifications

  • Dimensions – 13.5 cm long x 3.2 cm diameter (5.3 in x 1.26 in)
  • Weight – 255g (9.0 oz) with battery

Note – the Xite flashlights are not suitable for underwater use

 

Part numbers

Wavelength sets are named and color coded for the color of the excitation light, not the color of the emitted fluorescence. Read more…

Flashlight systems

  • Xite-UV – Ultraviolet (360 – 380nm) excitation
  • Xite-VI – Violet (400 – 415nm) excitation
  • Xite-RB – Royal Blue (440 – 460nm) excitation with longpass filter glasses
  • Xite-RB-GO – Royal Blue with green-only bandpass filter glasses
  • Xite-CY – Cyan (490 – 515nm) excitation
  • Xite-GR – Green (510 – 540nm) excitation

Extra barrier filter glasses

  • FG-UV – 415nm longpass
  • FG-VI – 450nm longpass
  • FG-RB-2 – 500nm longpass
  • FG-RB-GO – 500 – 560nm bandpass
  • FG-CY – 550nm longpass
  • FG-GR – 600nm longpass

Order the Xite flashlight packages on the Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS) web site.