Porthole cells are typical of the specialised solutions developed by Starna Scientific using optical manufacturing expertise accumulated in over 40 years supplying the scientific community
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 200microns 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.
Starna products include cells and certified reference materials for spectrophotometry and a wide range of optical components.
Starna products are manufactured at the Starna Scientific (formerly Optiglass) factory founded in 1964, whose lineage of optical expertise is traceable to the early part of the last century.
