Corrective Microscope Coverslips: CMC71RND Indexed Grid 

0.5mm Pitch Squares, 

18mm diameter

Pattern: CMC71RND

Film Cover Slip with 20 x 20 grid of 0.5mm squares, indexed 1 - 20 along top, A - T down the side and on central cross.

Round versions of their CMC35 and CMC71 Film Cover Slips.

These 18mm diameter cover slips are ideal to suit cell culture chambers / well cell culture plates and can be used for different microscopy applications:

• Specimen support,
• simple calibration,
• direct measurements, etc.

A unique film reticle for use in Correlative Microscopy. Designed specifically to allow identification and location of a particular area of interest under brightfield or fluorescence microscopes and then sectioning for electron microscopy.

Physical and Chemical Characteristics

     Resistant to normal chemicals used in electron microscopy
     No oxygen retention and compatible resin LR White
     Good optical quality in brightfield & UV fluorescence
     Excellent transparency
     Does not deform at temperatures (positive 100°C and negative liquid N2)
     Rigid, does not float in the middle of culture
     Easy to handle and cut with a knife or micro-punch
     Simple sterilisation using alcohol or UV
     Detaches easily from resin after polymerisation
     Low cost

Dimensions: 22mm x 22mm

Material and Thickness: Polyester Film 0.18mm thick

Technical Advice

Use with Fluorescent Microscopes. These new correlative microscopy coverslips (CMC’s) are not designed to replace the glass or quartz coverslips, which have superior optical properties, and so are far better for fluorescent microscopy. The film itself has a structure which is visible under certain light conditions, especially with fluorescence. The CMC’s are designed to satisfy the needs of correlative microscopy where an initial, general analysis is performed using light or fluorescent microscopy and then the specimen is further processed for analysis by SEM, TEM or cryofixation.

If you need to perform detailed analysis using fluorescent microscopy then the CMC’s are not the solution. If however you want to perform a comprehensive analysis using different analysis techniques then the CMC’s are the only solution. The key advantage of the CMC’s is that they are made on special film that can be cut or punched (for cryo applications), something that is not possible with glass coverslips. The grid image is also transferred to any embedded specimen making cell location far easier.

Best Types of Resin to Use. Because this is new technology it often requires a change in the preparation method. The method that technicians have traditionally used for glass coverslips may not be suitable for these film ones. The key thing to successful use of these CMC’s seems to be the type of resin and the preparation. We have already mentioned about the need to ensure a hermetic seal between the Beem capsule and the CMC film. The preparation works perfectly with low viscosity epoxy resins (Spurr, EPON). Sufficient polymerisation is obtained in 24 hours at 60 degrees Celsius – it does not normally require 48 hours.

Cleaning Procedure. Always clean the coverslips before applying the specimen. This can be done either with UV light or alcohol. After using alcohol it is best to immerse the coverslip in polysyline to give better adhesion.