Description
Sutter Instrument Company, in addition to the finest micropipette pullers available, offers a wide selection of high quality capillary glasses in various sizes and materials. Though there are many types and sizes of capillary glass available, we have carefully selected only those that pass our criteria. Our expertise in micropipette technology assures you of precision and high quality.
We offer capillary glass tubing in three different compositions; quartz, borosilicate and aluminosilicate. Each composition has its own unique properties and the selection will be determined by your application and your puller’s capabilities.
Fire Polishing
All borosilicate and aluminosilicate capillary glass offered by Sutter Instrument have fire-polished ends. This process eliminates any sharp edges, making it easier to insert into holders, and does not affect the electrical or mechanical properties of the glass.
Custom Pipettes
Sutter Instrument can make custom pipettes and microtools not commonly available from other pipette manufacturers. The custom pipettes are considered non-sterile and are manufactured for research applications and non-human use. Please contact Sutter Instrument for further details.
Sizes
Sutter Instrument capillary tubing is available in a broad range of wall thickness which allows you to select the size necessary for your application. The ratios of inside diameter to outside diameter typically run between 0.5mm and 0.75mm with the lower value being referred to as thick wall tubing and the top of the range as thin wall tubing. All other factors being equal, the thicker wall capillaries produce pipettes with longer tapers and smaller tips which make it more suitable for intracellular microelectrodes. These thicker wall pipettes tend to reduce the noise contributions due to capacitance which makes them more suitable for patch clamp pipettes. Thinner wall tubing allows for larger pore openings which make it ideal for microinjection needles and low resistance microelectrodes.
Filamented Glass – TechNote: What is filamented glass and who needs it?
Filamented glass has a small rod of glass annealed to the inner wall and this rod (filament of glass) creates the capillary action required to back-fill the pipette with solution. If the resulting pipette tip is under 1µl and being used for microinjection or being used for recording, we recommend “filamented-glass”. The filament in the glass not only provides capillary action for quick filling of the micropipette, it also helps to reduce the incidence of air bubbles when introducing solution into the pipette.
Last Updated on April 28, 2021
Specifications
GLASS COMPOSITION
Borosilicate (CORNING 7740)
The most commonly used glass is borosilicate. Sutter Instrument offers only TYPE I-CLASS A borosilicate as described by ASTM Standard 3.1.2*. This glass softens at 821 degrees Celsius and, as it is pulled, maintains its ratio of inside diameter to outside diameter over the total taper length. Borosilicate softens at a lower temperature than our other glasses and has a wider working range. These unique properties allow for a greater variety of shapes used in microelectrodes, patch pipettes, microinjection needles and, in the case of solid rod, chromosome dissection tools.
Aluminosilicate (SCHOTT 8252)
Aluminosilicate softens at a higher temperature (935 degrees Celsius) than borosilicate and is workable over a much narrower range. It has a tendency to continuously thin out as it is drawn which allows extremely fine tips with very short tapers. For example, we have pulled aluminosilicate tips in the 20-30 nanometer range with taper lengths of 5-6mm. Its resistivity is several orders of magnitude higher than borosilicate, thus reducing leakage currents when used in ion-selective micropipettes. Aluminosilicate is harder than borosilicate which results in a pipette that is more suitable for penetrating tough tissues.
Quartz (HERAEUS HSQ300)
The finest and purest glass available is quartz. It is superior to all other glasses in its mechanical, electrical and optical qualities. It has the lowest dielectric constant, the lowest loss factor and the highest volume resistivity making it ideal for patch clamp recording. Its chemical purity virtually eliminates leakage of ions** and by using quartz in single channel patch clamp recordings the lowest background noise levels have been achieved***. Due to its high melting point, it cannot be pulled on conventional pullers. However, it can be pulled easily with the Sutter CO2 laser-based P-2000.
* ASTM Designation E438-90 – April 1990
** Zuazaga C., Steinacker A. Patch-clamp recording of ion channels: Interfering effects of patch pipette glass. News in Physiological Sciences: International Union of Physiological Sciences and the American Physiological Society: 5:155-158, August 1990
*** Rae, James L., Levis Richard A. A Method for exceptionally low noise single channel recordings. Pflügers Archive; European Journal of Physiology:420:618-620, Springer-Verlag 1992
Last Updated on April 28, 2021
Ordering Glass
Standard Wall Borosilicate Tubing
With Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Inside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| BF100-50-7.5 |
1.00mm |
0.50mm |
7.5cm |
| BF100-50-10 |
1.00mm |
0.50mm |
10cm |
| BF100-50-15 |
1.00mm |
0.50mm |
15cm |
| BF100-58-10 |
1.00mm |
0.58mm |
10cm |
| BF100-58-15 |
1.00mm |
0.58mm |
15cm |
| BF120-60-10 |
1.20mm |
0.60mm |
10cm |
| BF120-69-7.5 |
1.20mm |
0.69mm |
7.5cm |
| BF120-69-10 |
1.20mm |
0.69mm |
10cm |
| BF120-69-15 |
1.20mm |
0.69mm |
15cm |
| BF150-75-7.5 |
1.50mm |
0.75mm |
7.5cm |
| BF150-75-10 |
1.50mm |
0.75mm |
10cm |
| BF150-86-7.5 |
1.50mm |
0.86mm |
7.5cm |
| BF150-86-10 |
1.50mm |
0.86mm |
10cm |
| BF150-86-15 |
1.50mm |
0.86mm |
15cm |
| BF200-100-10 |
2.00mm |
1.00mm |
10cm |
| BF200-116-10 |
2.00mm |
1.16mm |
10cm |
| BF200-116-15 |
2.00mm |
1.16mm |
15cm |
|
Standard Wall Borosilicate Tubing
Without Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Inside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| B100-50-10 |
1.00mm |
0.50mm |
10cm |
| B100-50-15 |
1.00mm |
0.50mm |
15cm |
| B100-58-10 |
1.00mm |
0.58mm |
10cm |
| B100-58-15 |
1.00mm |
0.58mm |
15cm |
| B120-69-8 |
1.20mm |
0.69mm |
8cm |
| B120-69-10 |
1.20mm |
0.69mm |
10cm |
| B120-69-15 |
1.20mm |
0.69mm |
15cm |
| B150-86-7.5 |
1.50mm |
0.86mm |
7.5cm |
| B150-86-10 |
1.50mm |
0.86mm |
10cm |
| B150-86-15 |
1.50mm |
0.86mm |
15cm |
| B200-116-10 |
2.00mm |
1.16mm |
10cm |
| B200-116-15 |
2.00mm |
1.16mm |
15cm |
|
Heavy Polished Standard and Thin Walled Borosilicate Tubing1
With Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Inside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| BF150-86-7.5HP |
1.50mm |
0.86mm |
7.5cm |
| BF150-86-10HP |
1.50mm |
0.86mm |
10cm |
| BF150-110-7.5HP |
1.50mm |
1.10mm |
7.5cm |
| BF150-110-10HP |
1.50mm |
1.10mm |
10cm |
|
Heavy Polished Standard and Thin Walled Borosilicate Tubing1
Without Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Inside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| B100-30-7.5HP |
1.00mm |
0.30mm |
7.5cm |
| B100-50-7.5HP |
1.00mm |
0.50mm |
7.5cm |
| B150-86-7.5HP |
1.50mm |
0.86mm |
7.5cm |
| B150-86-10HP |
1.50mm |
0.86mm |
10cm |
| B150-110-7.5HP |
1.50mm |
1.10mm |
7.5cm |
| B150-110-10HP |
1.50mm |
1.10mm |
10cm |
| 1Useful for added protection of gaskets and wire in headstages. |
|
Thin Wall Borosilicate Tubing
With Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Inside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| BF100-78-10 |
1.00mm |
0.78mm |
10cm |
| BF100-78-15 |
1.00mm |
0.78mm |
15cm |
| BF120-94-8 |
1.20mm |
0.94mm |
8cm |
| BF120-94-10 |
1.20mm |
0.94mm |
10cm |
| BF120-94-15 |
1.20mm |
0.94mm |
15cm |
| BF150-110-7.5 |
1.50mm |
1.10mm |
7.5cm |
| BF150-110-10 |
1.50mm |
1.10mm |
10cm |
| BF150-117-10 |
1.50mm |
1.17mm |
10cm |
| BF150-117-15 |
1.50mm |
1.17mm |
15cm |
| BF150-120-10 |
1.50mm |
1.20mm |
10cm |
| BF165-120-10 |
1.65mm |
1.20mm |
10cm |
| BF200-156-10 |
2.00mm |
1.56mm |
10cm |
| BF200-156-15 |
2.00mm |
1.56mm |
15cm |
|
Thin Wall Borosilicate Tubing
Without Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Inside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| B100-75-10 |
1.00mm |
0.75mm |
10cm |
| B100-75-15 |
1.00mm |
0.75mm |
15cm |
| B120-90-8 |
1.20mm |
0.90mm |
8cm |
| B120-90-10 |
1.20mm |
0.90mm |
10cm |
| B120-90-15 |
1.20mm |
0.90mm |
15cm |
| B150-110-7.5 |
1.50mm |
1.10mm |
7.5cm |
| B150-110-10 |
1.50mm |
1.10mm |
10cm |
| B150-117-10 |
1.50mm |
1.17mm |
10cm |
| B200-156-10 |
2.00mm |
1.56mm |
10cm |
| B200-156-15 |
2.00mm |
1.56mm |
15cm |
|
Multibarrel Borosilicate*
With Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Number of Barrels |
In/Outside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| 2BF100-50-10 |
2 barrels |
1.00/0.50 |
10cm |
| 2BF100-75-10 |
2 barrels |
1.00/0.75 |
10cm |
| 2BF150-86-10 |
2 barrels |
1.50/0.86 |
10cm |
| 2BF150-86-15 |
2 barrels |
1.50/0.86 |
15cm |
| 3BF100-50-10 |
3 barrels |
1.00/0.50 |
10cm |
| 3BF100-75-10 |
3 barrels |
1.00/0.75 |
10cm |
| 3BF120-69-10 |
3 barrels |
1.20/0.69 |
10cm |
| 3BF120-69-15 |
3 barrels |
1.20/0.69 |
15cm |
|
Multibarrel Borosilicate*
Without Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Number of Barrels |
In/Outside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| 3B100-75-10 |
3 barrels |
1.00/0.75 |
10cm |
| 4B100-75-10 |
4 barrels |
1.00/0.75 |
10cm |
* Multibarrel borosilicate requires a custom filament.
Please contact Sutter Instrument for more information when ordering. |
|
Quartz Tubing
With Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Inside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| QF100-50-7.5 |
1.00mm |
0.50mm |
7.5cm |
| QF100-50-10 |
1.00mm |
0.50mm |
10cm |
| QF100-60-7.5 |
1.00mm |
0.60mm |
7.5cm |
| QF100-60-10 |
1.00mm |
0.60mm |
10cm |
| QF100-70-7.5 |
1.00mm |
0.70mm |
7.5cm |
| QF100-70-10 |
1.00mm |
0.70mm |
10cm |
| QF100-70-15 |
1.00mm |
0.70mm |
15cm |
| QF120-60-7.5 |
1.20mm |
0.60mm |
7.5cm |
| QF120-90-10 |
1.20mm |
0.90mm |
10cm |
| QF150-75-7.5 |
1.50mm |
0.75mm |
7.5cm |
| QF150-75-10 |
1.50mm |
0.75mm |
10cm |
|
Quartz Tubing
Without Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Inside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| Q100-30-7.5 |
1.00mm |
0.30mm |
7.5cm |
| Q100-30-15 |
1.00mm |
0.30mm |
15cm |
| Q100-50-7.5 |
1.00mm |
0.50mm |
7.5cm |
| Q100-50-10 |
1.00mm |
0.50mm |
10cm |
| Q100-70-7.5 |
1.00mm |
0.70mm |
7.5cm |
| Q100-70-10 |
1.00mm |
0.70mm |
10cm |
| Q120-40-7.5 |
1.20mm |
0.40mm |
7.5cm |
| Q120-60-7.5 |
1.20mm |
0.60mm |
7.5cm |
| Q120-90-7.5 |
1.20mm |
0.90mm |
7.5cm |
| Q120-90-10 |
1.20mm |
0.90mm |
10cm |
| Q150-50-7.5 |
1.50mm |
0.50mm |
7.5cm |
| Q150-75-7.5 |
1.50mm |
0.75mm |
7.5cm |
| Q150-75-10 |
1.50mm |
0.75mm |
10cm |
| Q150-110-10 |
1.50mm |
1.10mm |
10cm |
| Q165-115-10 |
1.65mm |
1.15mm |
10cm |
|
| Solid Quartz Rod |
| Catalog Number |
Style |
Outside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| QR100-7.5 |
solid |
1.00mm |
7.5cm |
| QR100-10 |
solid |
1.00mm |
10cm |
| QR100-15 |
solid |
1.00mm |
15cm |
|
| Quartz Theta Tubing |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Septum Thickness |
Overall Length |
| QT120-90-7.5 |
1.20/0.9mm |
0.15mm |
7.5cm |
|
| Multibarrel Quartz |
| Catalog Number |
Number of Barrels |
OD/ID in mm |
Overall Length |
| 7Q033-16-10 |
7 barrel |
1.00/[.33/.16ea] |
10cm |
|
Aluminosilicate Tubing
With Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Inside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| AF100-64-10 |
1.00mm |
0.64mm |
10cm |
| AF120-77-10 |
1.20mm |
0.77mm |
10cm |
| AF120-87-10 |
1.20mm |
0.87mm |
10cm |
| AF150-100-10 |
1.50mm |
1.00mm |
10cm |
|
Aluminosilicate Tubing
Without Filament |
| Catalog Number |
Outside Diameter |
Inside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| A100-64-10 |
1.00mm |
0.64mm |
10cm |
| A120-77-10 |
1.20mm |
0.77mm |
10cm |
| A120-87-10 |
1.20mm |
0.87mm |
10cm |
| A150-100-10 |
1.50mm |
1.00mm |
10cm |
|
| Borosilicate Theta Tubing |
| Catalog Number |
O.D/I.D. |
Septum Thickness |
Overall Length |
| BT-150-10 |
1.50/1.17mm |
0.165mm |
10cm |
|
| Solid Borosilicate Rod |
| Catalog Number |
Style |
Outside Diameter |
Overall Length |
| BR-100-10 |
solid |
1.00mm |
10cm |
| BR-100-15 |
solid |
1.00mm |
15cm |
Last Updated on April 28, 2021
Ordering Filaments and Accessories
FILAMENTS
Appropriate filament selection depends on your research application, but a general guideline for filaments is as follows:
Box Filaments are recommended for large diameter, double barreled, or aluminosilicate glass. Box filaments are particularly suitable for patch pipettes, slice preparations, and microinjection where long, parallel walls would aid penetration. If using a box filament, the size of the square box should be approximately 1.0mm to 1.5mm larger than the outside diameter of the glass that you will be using.
For IVF and ICSI applications, a 2.5mm x 4.5mm box filament (FB245B) is recommended. For pronuclear injection work, we recommend a 2.5mm x 2.5mm box filament (FB255B). Call for more specific advice or to request a combination of settings, filaments, and glass for your application.
Trough Filaments are excellent general purpose filaments and are recommended for slice patch pipettes produced from thin wall glass. If very short tapers are required for patch or microinjection, a 2.5mm x 3mm box filament is recommended.
Sutter pre-programs the P-97 with a 2.5mm box filament unless an alternative filament is requested.
For either shape of filament (box or trough), increasing the filament width tends to increase the length of the pipette taper. If there are specific questions as to the sizes needed, please call and our technical support staff will guide you in your choice.
Minimum purchase of filaments is 4
|
| Box Filaments |
P-1000, P-97, P-87, P80PC, PC-84, P-77B |
| Catalog Number |
Description |
| FB215B |
2.0mm square box filament, 1.5mm wide |
| FB220B |
2.0mm square box filament, 2.0mm wide |
| FB230B |
2.0mm square box filament, 3.0mm wide |
| FB255B |
2.5mm square box filament, 2.5mm wide |
| FB245B |
2.5mm square box filament, 4.5mm wide |
| FB315B |
3.0mm square box filament, 1.5mm wide |
| FB320B |
3.0mm square box filament, 2.0mm wide |
| FB330B |
3.0mm square box filament, 3.0mm wide |
|
| Trough Filaments |
P-1000, P-97, P-87, P80PC, P80C, PC-84, P-77B |
| Catalog Number |
Description |
| FT315B |
1.5mm wide trough filament |
| FT320B |
2.0mm wide trough filament |
| FT330B |
3.0mm wide trough filament |
| FT345B |
4.5mm wide trough filament |
|
| P-30 Filaments |
|
| Catalog Number |
Description |
| P30T15 |
1.5mm wide trough filament |
| P30T20 |
2.0mm wide trough filament |
| P30T30 |
3.0mm wide trough filament |
| P30N |
Nichrome filament – 3 turns (BEFORE SN# P30-680) |
| P30N4 |
Nichrome filament – 4 turns (AFTER SN# P30-679) |
|
| P-77A Loop Filaments |
|
| Catalog Number |
Description |
| (SN# 160 and greater) |
| FL315A |
3.0mm loop filament, 1.5mm wide |
| FL320A |
3.0mm loop filament, 2.0mm wide |
| FL325A |
3.0mm loop filament, 2.5mm wide |
| (SN# less than 160) |
| FL315X |
3.0mm loop filament, 1.5mm wide |
| FL320X |
3.0mm loop filament, 2.0mm wide |
| FL325X |
3.0mm loop filament, 2.5mm wide |
|
| Accessories |
|
| Catalog Number |
Description |
| FILAMENT |
Custom platinum/iridium filament |
| FPS |
Fire polishing spacer for P-97, P-87, P-2000 pullers |
| FS1875 |
Platinum/iridium sheet, 18mm x 75mm x 0.05mm (0.002in) |
| CTS |
Ceramic tile for scoring glass |
| BX102 |
Pipette storage box – Holds 10 (4 3/4 x 3 5/8 x 3/4 in) |
| BX202 |
Pipette storage box – Holds 20 (7 x 3 5/8 x 3/4 in) |
Last Updated on April 28, 2021
