Overview
Sensapex has commercialized the automated pipette cleaning technique developed by Dr. Ilya Kolb, Dr. Craig Forest and their colleagues (1), and manufactures related products under exclusive license from GTRC, USA. We are proud to facilitate adoption of this simple but powerful new innovation, which works robustly in real-life and enables automating micropipette techniques!
- Forming giga seal requires pristine pipette tip -> traditionally pipette is changed after each recording and/or its attempt
- Automated pipette cleaning enables immediate re-use -> reduced down-time and no loss of other recordings from manual handling related vibrations in multi-patch experiments
- Thoroughly validated to be safe to cells in original publication by the inventors (1); see also recent publication by Dr. Peng et. al from Dr. Geiger laboratory (2), which demonstrates dramatic increase in throughput in the multi-patch experiments.
- Kolb I et. al. Cleaning patch-clamp pipettes for immediate reuse. Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 11;6:35001
- Peng Y et al. High-throughput microcircuit analysis of individual human brains through next-generation multineuron patch-clamp. Elife. 2019 Nov 19;8. pii: e48178.
Visit Sensapex Science for further information about the technique!
Last Updated on February 10, 2021
Features
- Fully automated – 1-click pipette cleaning with uMp-TSC
- Large range and fine resolution – ±70 kPa range, 7 Pa resolution
- High accuracy – closed-loop control with ±140 Pa absolute accuracy
- Robust performance – in-built calibration capabilities and temperature compensation
- Fast switching between user/ATM and regulated pressure
- Compact – 1-channel desktop and 4 / 8 channel 1U rack variants
- IO interface for DAQ devices – easy add-on installation
- Automation ready – short latency PC connection, open-source SDK
Last Updated on February 10, 2021
Pipette Cleaning Technique
Automated pipette cleaning process takes less than a minute and consist of following steps, which can be executed by the 1-click feature available at the uMp-TSC touch screen unit:
- uMp micromanipulator moves the pipette tip to dedicated cleaning well of the uMc pipette cleaning insert, which is filled with Alconox or Tergazyme
- uMc automated pressure controller sets negative pressure to the pipette to draw cleaning solution to the tip.
- Pressure is automatically changed between the positive and negative values to flush cleaning solution through the tip.
- Positive pressure pulse with extended duration is applied to expel all cleaning solution from the pipette with 10x safety factor.
- Pipette tip is moved to the dedicated rinsing well of the cleaning insert for further safety.
- Pressure is automatically changed between the positive and negative values to cycle rinsing solution through the tip.
- Pipette tip is moved accurately back to starting position.
Automated patch clamp pressure control
uMc automated pressure controllers can be also used to optimize and systematically apply pressure values that provide best data yield and quality for patch clamp recordings. 1-click quick buttons are available at the uMp-TSC to configure and set desired values for each step of the whole-cell patch clamp recordings in vitro and in vivo. Please see uM workstations for fully automated patch clamp workflows.
Last Updated on February 10, 2021
Configuration Examples
Automated 1-channel pipette cleaning
- uMc-PPC1 1-channel pressure controller
- uMc-PRF Pressure pre-regulation & filter unit
- uMc-SLC Cleaning insert for Warner PM platform
Quad multi-patch with automated pipette cleaning
- uMc-PPC4 4-channel pressure controller
- uMc-PRF-VAC Pressure pre-regulation & filter unit with vacuum generation
- uMc-SLC Cleaning insert for Warner PM platform
Automated multi-patch with eight channels
- uMc-PPC8 8-channel pressure controller
- uMc-PRF-VAC pressure pre-regulation & filter unit with vacuum generation
- uMc-LQS8 8-channel liquid sensor
- 2 pcs of uMc-SLC Cleaning insert for Warner PM platform
Last Updated on February 10, 2021
Specifications
uMc-PPC1 Pressure controller
| Output pressure |
+70 kPa |
| Output vacuum |
-70 kPa |
| Resolution |
7 Pa |
| Accuracy |
±140 Pa |
| Input pressure required |
+80 kPa |
| Input vacuum required |
-80 kPa |
| Analog I/O Control |
Optional |
| Dimensions |
128 x 204 x 52 mm |
uMc-PPC4/8 Pressure controller
| Output pressure |
+70 kPa |
| Output vacuum |
-70 kPa |
| Resolution |
7 Pa |
| Accuracy |
±140 Pa |
| Input pressure required |
+80 kPa |
| Input vacuum required |
-80 kPa |
| Analog I/O Control |
Included |
| Dimensions |
483 x 357 x 44 mm |
uMc-SLQ Optical safety switch
| Max channels |
8 |
| Dimensions |
483 x 60 x 44 mm |
uMc-PRF Pressure pre-regulator & filter unit
| Input pressure required |
+150 kPa |
| Input vacuum required |
– 80 kPa |
| Output pressure |
+70 kPa |
| Output vacuum |
-70 kPa |
| Dimensions |
304 x 467 x 163 mm |
uMc-PRF Pressure pre-regulator & filter unit with vacuum generator
| Input pressure required |
+400 kPa |
| Input vacuum required |
n/a |
| Output pressure |
+70 kPa |
| Output vacuum |
-70 kPa |
| Dimensions |
304 x 467 x 163 mm |
Last Updated on February 10, 2021
Ordering
For ordering, please contact ALA Scientific sales team.
Last Updated on February 10, 2021
