Technical Dossier
Product Details And Specifications
Olympus XENUS PLUS Series Technical Notes
The Olympus XENUS PLUS platform is a modular fluorescence illumination and imaging system engineered for high-throughput research microscopy. Deployed across pharmaceutical R&D laboratories, semiconductor inspection facilities, and life science imaging centers globally, the XENUS PLUS architecture integrates xenon arc lamp illumination with precision optical relay components. The system's modular design — spanning illuminators, camera adapters, relay lenses, port tubes, and filter cube assemblies — enables configuration flexibility across upright and inverted microscope frames including the BX, IX, and CX series. Its sustained adoption in regulated laboratory environments (GLP/GMP-compliant facilities, clinical pathology labs) reflects the platform's long-term serviceability and the availability of validated spare parts.
The Evolution of XENUS PLUS Architecture
The XENUS PLUS lineage originates from Olympus's earlier U-LH100HG mercury arc illumination systems. The transition to xenon-based illumination (XENUS) addressed the spectral instability and warm-up latency inherent in mercury sources, delivering a broader, flatter emission spectrum from 300–800 nm. The XENUS PLUS revision introduced enhanced arc lamp housing sealing (IP-rated enclosures), improved shutter response times (<50 ms), and a standardized C-mount and U-TV adapter interface that unified camera coupling across the BX2 and IX2 frame generations. Compatibility with legacy U-series port tubes (U-TLU, U-TLU-1) was maintained through adapter rings, preserving investment in existing optical infrastructure. As the platform enters its mature lifecycle phase, Olympus has transitioned primary support to the X-Cite and pE-series LED illuminators; however, XENUS PLUS components remain in active use at sites where xenon spectral characteristics are a validated process requirement. DriveKNMS maintains RFQ-reviewed sourcing status of both current and end-of-life XENUS PLUS assemblies to support lifecycle extension programs.
XENUS PLUS Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)
The following SKUs represent the verified XENUS PLUS module range, classified by functional category. Each entry reflects a discrete, field-replaceable assembly.
Illumination & Light Source Assemblies
- 800-1953: XENUS PLUS 75W xenon arc lamp illuminator, complete housing assembly with integrated shutter and fiber port
- E62706200: Xenon arc lamp burner unit, 75W, direct replacement for XENUS PLUS housing 800-1953
- E11706200: Lamp socket and igniter sub-assembly for XENUS PLUS 800-1953 illuminator
- U-LH75XEAPO: 75W xenon arc lamp, apo-corrected, for XENUS PLUS and XENUS standard housings
- U-HGLGPS: Mercury/xenon hybrid lamp power supply, compatible with XENUS PLUS control interface
Camera Coupling & Relay Optics
- U-TV1X: 1x C-mount TV adapter, direct-coupled, for BX2/IX2 phototube port — primary imaging relay in this system configuration
- U-CMAD-2: C-mount camera adapter, 0.5x reduction relay, for coupling DSLR/CMOS sensors to U-TV1 X output
- U-TV0.5XC-3: 0.5x C-mount adapter with 3-chip CCD correction, alternative to U-CMAD-2 for color-critical applications
- U-TV1X-2: 1x TV adapter, second-generation, improved anti-reflection coating vs. U-TV1X
- U-TVCAC: C-mount to CS-mount conversion adapter, for compact camera sensors requiring shorter flange distance
Port Tubes & Optical Path Components
- U-TLU: Universal port tube, upright frame, connects phototube to camera adapter stack — included in this system configuration
- U-TLU-1: Extended port tube variant, 160mm optical path, for legacy BX50/BX60 frame compatibility
- U-DP: Dual-port beam splitter, 50/50 ratio, for simultaneous eyepiece and camera imaging
- U-TR30-2: Trinocular observation tube, 30° inclined, with integrated camera port for BX2 series
Fluorescence Filter & Relay Accessories
- UCLW: Universal condenser lens, wide-field, for transmitted light and fluorescence co-illumination — included in this system configuration
- U-MF2: Motorized fluorescence filter cube turret, 6-position, compatible with XENUS PLUS illumination path
- U-FDICT: DIC/fluorescence combination prism slider for BX2 transmitted light path
- U-RLA: Relay lens assembly, intermediate optical path component between illuminator and epi-fluorescence port — included in this system configuration