Konan Specular Microscope Troubleshooting

Konan specular microscopes provide cellular-level views of the endothelium -- the thin layer of cells that lines the insides of blood vessels. Physicians and surgeons use Konan specular microscopes to screen patients for dystrophies, endothelial problems and cataract abnormalities. When your Konan microscope isn't functioning properly, troubleshoot it to find out if you can repair the microscope yourself or have to send it to the company for repair.

Things You'll Need

• Immersion oil
• Rubbing alcohol
• Lint-free paper tissue
• Screwdriver
• Replacement bulb

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Instructions

• 1

  Check the settings of the microscope, if you get a poor image. The manual will give you specific settings to use for a variety of situations. For example, if the patient's cornea is thicker than average, you'll need to make adjustments on the microscope to get an image that will help you with diagnosis.

• 2

  Remove the immersion oil in the dispenser container next to the microscope, if the image looks hazy. Haziness suggests there is yeast growing in the immersion oil, and the yeast will affect your image quality. Sterilize the oil containers by thoroughly wiping them with rubbing alcohol, and refill the containers with a 50/50 mixture of low and high viscosity immersion oil.

• 3

  Move the specimen slide rapidly back and forth a few times, if you notice a bubble in the image. Bubbles will interfere with your ability to see the image clearly. Moving the slide back and forth a few times should dislodge the bubble.

• 4

  Suspect a dirty tip on the lens, if the center of the image is focused but the edges appear blurry. Use a lint-free paper tissue to carefully wipe the surface of the lens. If the edges are still blurry after you've cleaned the lens, immersion oil has begun to leak inside, and you need to have a serviceman fix the seal on the immersion oil compartments.

• 5

  Change the lamp bulb, if the microscope appears to be getting power but isn't illuminating. To change the bulb, unplug the machine and allow it to cool down. Loosen the screws that hold the lamp housing in place, and remove the lamp retaining clip. Take out the old bulb. Install the new bulb, but try to avoid touching the lamp glass with your fingers. Doing so may cause fingerprint smudges, which could obstruct images. Replace the retaining clip, the lamp housing and the power connections.