New Starna Cell for Biofilm Studies

The study of biofilms in flow cells by optical microscopy presents special challenges. The sophisticated techniques used, like confocal laser microscopy and refractive index matching, can suffer from interferences due to the flow cell window itself.

Using optical manufacturing protocols developed for the manufacture of accurate short path length cells, Starna Scientific have been able to produce flow cells with ultra-thin windows to minimise these effects.
The window of the Starna^® “porthole” cell is only 200 microns thick. For robustness, the 5mm diameter window is heat fused to thicker supporting material around its circumference. The manufacturing process also ensures that the window thickness is accurately controlled and is stress free for optimum optical performance.