Video-enhanced contrast microscopy

Video microscopy has permitted direct observation of microtubule assembly/disassembly dynamics in vitro. Horio and HotanP first used dark-field optics to observe the growth and shrinkage phases, but so-called Allen video-enhanced contrast microscopy has become most convenient. 

Bruckner, E. and Rehage, H., Solubilization of toluene in phospholipid vesicles studied by video-enhanced contrast microscopy, Progr. Colloid Polym. ScL, 109, 21-28 (1998). 

Shooton, D. (ed.) (1993) Electronic Light Microscopy. The Principles and Practice of Video-Enhanced Contrast, Digital Intensified Fluorescence, and Confocal Scanning Light Microscopy. Wiley-Liss, New York. 

While even relatively simple techniques can dramatically improve contrast ( ), perhaps it is the exotic new methods, such as those for producing "live" stereoscopic images at near-micron resolution (49.501. or the Allen Video Enhanced Contrast system (44.451. which typify the explosive growth in the zuicient science of visible microscopy. Although the focus has been on biosystems, there is no reason why these technologies cannot be... 

Masters BR, Kino GS. Charge coupled devices for quantitative Nipkow Disk real-time scanning confocal microscopy. In Shotton D, ed. Electron light microscopy The principles and practice of video-enhanced contrast, digital intensified fluorescence, and confocal scanning light microscopy. New York Wiley-Liss, 1993. 

Shotton D. Electronic hght microscopy the principles and practice of video- enhanced contrast, digital intestified flourescenes, and confocal scanning hght microscopy. Wiley-Liss 1992, pp. 17-20 (Chap 1). 

Figure 12. Principle of video-enhanced conlrast microscopy A) Original image B) Offset (brightness) C) Contrast gain...

R. D. Allen el al. "Video-Enhanced-Contrast Polarization (AVEC-Pol) Microscopy A New Method Applied to the Detection of Birefringence in the Motile Retic-ulopodial Network of Allogromia Lalicollaris. Cell Motil. 1 (1981) 275-289. 

The direct visnalization of microstructure may be accomplished by various forms of microscopy. Recent refinements in microscopy techniques are epitomized by video-enhanced interference phase-contrast microscopy, which is emerging as a workhorse probe for colloidal suspensions and other microstructnred liqnids. 

The classical polarizing light microscope as developed 150 years ago is still the most versatile, least expensive analytical instrument in the hands of an experienced microscopist. Its limitations in terms of resolving power, depth of field, and contrast have been reduced in the last decade, in which we have witnessed a revolution in its evolution. Video microscopy has increased contrast electronically, and thereby revealed structures never before seen. With computer enhancement, unheard of resolutions are possible. There are daily developments in the X-ray, holographic, acoustic, confocal laser scanning, and scanning tunneling micro-... 

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