Capillary Glass & Filaments

Sutter offers a wide selection of high quality capillary glass in various sizes and materials. These are carefully curated from the many types and sizes of capillary glass available. 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. For example, we make custom pre-pulled beveled pipettes for microinjection. 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.

Glass Capillaries

Thick/Standard Wall Borosilicate Glass with Filament

Borosilicate (CORNING 7740)
The most commonly used glass is borosilicate. Sutter Instrument offers only TYPE I-CLASS A borosilicate as described by ASTM Standard 3.1.2¹. 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.

¹ ASTM Designation E438-90 - April 1990

Thick/Standard Wall
International prices vary by country. Please contact your local distributor or Sutter Instrument for a quotation.

Thick/Standard Wall Borosilicate Glass with Filament

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
BF100-50-7.5	1.00 mm	0.50 mm	7.5 cm	225
BF100-50-10	1.00 mm	0.50 mm	10 cm	225
BF100-50-15	1.00 mm	0.50 mm	15 cm	225
BF100-58-10	1.00 mm	0.58 mm	10 cm	250
BF100-58-15	1.00 mm	0.58 mm	15 cm	250
BF120-60-10	1.20 mm	0.60 mm	10 cm	225
BF120-69-7.5	1.20 mm	0.69 mm	7.5 cm	250
BF120-69-10	1.20 mm	0.69 mm	10 cm	250
BF120-69-15	1.20 mm	0.69 mm	15 cm	250
BF150-75-7.5	1.50 mm	0.75 mm	7.5 cm	225
BF150-75-10	1.50 mm	0.75 mm	10 cm	225
BF150-86-7.5	1.50 mm	0.86 mm	7.5 cm	250
BF150-86-10	1.50 mm	0.86 mm	10 cm	250
BF150-86-15	1.50 mm	0.86 mm	15 cm	250
BF200-100-10	2.00 mm	1.00 mm	10 cm	225
BF200-116-10	2.00 mm	1.16 mm	10 cm	250
BF200-116-15	2.00 mm	1.16 mm	15 cm	250

Heavy Polished Thick/Standard Wall Borosilicate Glass with Filament
Useful for added protection of gaskets and wire in headstages

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
BF150-86-7.5HP	1.50 mm	0.86 mm	7.5 cm	250
BF150-86-10HP	1.50 mm	0.86 mm	10 cm	250

Thick/Standard Wall Borosilicate Glass without Filament

Capillary Thick-Wall 1-Barrel

Thick/Standard Wall Borosilicate Glass without Filament

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
B100-20-10¹	1.00 mm	0.20 mm	10 cm	225
B100-50-10	1.00 mm	0.50 mm	10 cm	225
B100-50-15	1.00 mm	0.50 mm	15 cm	225
B100-58-10	1.00 mm	0.58 mm	10 cm	250
B100-58-15	1.00 mm	0.58 mm	15 cm	250
B114-53-10NP²	1.14 mm	0.53 mm	10 cm	225
B120-69-8	1.20 mm	0.69 mm	8 cm	250
B120-69-10	1.20 mm	0.69 mm	10 cm	250
B120-69-15	1.20 mm	0.69 mm	15 cm	250
B150-86-7.5	1.50 mm	0.86 mm	7.5 cm	250
B150-86-10	1.50 mm	0.86 mm	10 cm	250
B150-86-15	1.50 mm	0.86 mm	15 cm	250
B200-116-10	2.00 mm	1.16 mm	10 cm	250
B200-116-15	2.00 mm	1.16 mm	15 cm	250
¹ The ends are not fire polished. Special order minimum of 2.
² Nanoinjection glass. Ends are not fire-polished.

Heavy Polished Thick/Standard Wall Borosilicate Glass without Filament
Useful for added protection of gaskets and wire in headstages

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
B100-30-7.5HP	1.00 mm	0.30 mm	7.5 cm	225
B100-50-7.5HP	1.00 mm	0.50 mm	7.5 cm	225
B150-86-7.5HP	1.50 mm	0.86 mm	7.5 cm	250
B150-86-10HP	1.50 mm	0.86 mm	10 cm	250

Thin Wall Borosilicate Glass with Filament

Thin Wall
International prices vary by country. Please contact your local distributor or Sutter Instrument for a quotation.

Thin Wall Borosilicate Glass with Filament

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
BF100-75-10	1.00 mm	0.75 mm	10 cm	225
BF100-78-10	1.00 mm	0.78 mm	10 cm	250
BF100-78-15	1.00 mm	0.78 mm	15 cm	250
BF120-94-8	1.20 mm	0.94 mm	8 cm	250
BF120-94-10	1.20 mm	0.94 mm	10 cm	250
BF120-94-15	1.20 mm	0.94 mm	15 cm	250
BF150-110-7.5	1.50 mm	1.10 mm	7.5 cm	225
BF150-110-10	1.50 mm	1.10 mm	10 cm	225
BF150-117-10	1.50 mm	1.17 mm	10c m	250
BF150-117-15	1.50 mm	1.17 mm	15 cm	100
BF150-120-10	1.50 mm	1.20 mm	10 cm	250
BF165-120-7.5	1.65 mm	1.20 mm	7.5 cm	225
BF165-120-10	1.65 mm	1.20 mm	10 cm	225
BF200-156-10	2.00 mm	1.56 mm	10 cm	250
BF200-156-15	2.00 mm	1.56 mm	15 cm	100

Heavy Polished Thin Wall Borosilicate Glass with Filament
Useful for added protection of gaskets and wire in headstages

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
BF150-110-7.5HP	1.50 mm	1.10 mm	7.5 cm	225
BF150-110-10HP	1.50 mm	1.10 mm	10 cm	225

Thin Wall Borosilicate Glass without Filament

Thin-WallCapillaryNoFilament

Thin Wall Borosilicate Glass without Filament

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
B100-75-10	1.00 mm	0.75 mm	10 cm	225
B100-75-15	1.00 mm	0.75 mm	15 cm	225
B120-90-8	1.20 mm	0.90 mm	8 cm	225
B120-90-10	1.20 mm	0.90 mm	10 cm	225
B120-90-15	1.20 mm	0.90 mm	15 cm	225
B150-110-7.5	1.50 mm	1.10 mm	7.5 cm	225
B150-110-10	1.50 mm	1.10 mm	10 cm	225
B150-117-10	1.50 mm	1.17 mm	10 cm	225
B200-156-10	2.00 mm	1.56 mm	10 cm	250
B200-156-15	2.00 mm	1.56 mm	15 cm	100

Heavy Polished Thin Wall Borosilicate Glass without Filament
Useful for added protection of gaskets and wire in headstages

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
B150-110-7.5HP	1.50mm	1.10mm	7.5cm	225
B150-110-10HP	1.50 mm	1.10 mm	10 cm	225

Multibarrel Borosilicate Glass with Filament

Multibarrel
International prices vary by country. Please contact your local distributor or Sutter Instrument for a quotation.

Multibarrel Borosilicate Glass with Filament
Multibarrel borosilicate requires a custom filament.
Please contact Sutter Instrument for more information when ordering.

Catalog Number	Number of Barrels	Out/Inside Diameter(A/B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
2BF100-50-10	2 barrels	1.00/0.50	10 cm	75
2BF100-75-10	2 barrels	1.00/0.75	10 cm	75
2BF150-86-10	2 barrels	1.50/0.86	10 cm	100
2BF150-86-15	2 barrels	1.50/0.86	15 cm	100
3BF100-50-10	3 barrels	1.00/0.50	10 cm	75
3BF100-75-10	3 barrels	1.00/0.75	10 cm	75
3BF120-69-10	3 barrels	1.20/0.69	10 cm	100
3BF120-69-15	3 barrels	1.20/0.69	15 cm	100

Multibarrel Borosilicate Glass without Filament

Multibarrel Borosilicate Glass without Filament
Multibarrel borosilicate requires a custom filament.
Please contact Sutter Instrument for more information when ordering.

Catalog Number	Number of Barrels	Out/Inside Diameter(A/B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
3B100-75-10	3 barrels	1.00/0.75	10 cm	75
4B100-75-10	4 barrels	1.00/0.75	10 cm	75

Aluminosilicate Glass with Filament

Thin-WallCapillaryWithFilament

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 5-6 mm. 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.

Aluminosilicate Glass with Filament

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
AF100-64-10	1.00 mm	0.64 mm	10 cm	100
AF120-77-10	1.20 mm	0.77 mm	10 cm	100
AF120-87-10	1.20 mm	0.87 mm	10 cm	100
AF150-100-10	1.50 mm	1.00 mm	10 cm	100

Aluminosilicate Glass without Filament

Thin-WallCapillaryNoFilament

Aluminosilicate Glass without Filament

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
A100-64-10	1.00 mm	0.64 mm	10 cm	100
A120-77-10	1.20 mm	0.77 mm	10 cm	100
A120-87-10	1.20 mm	0.87 mm	10 cm	100
A150-100-10	1.50 mm	1.00 mm	10 cm	100

Quartz Glass with Filament

Thick-WallCapillaryWithFilament

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 ions¹ and by using quartz in single channel patch clamp recordings the lowest background noise levels have been achieved². 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.

¹ 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

² 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

Quartz
International prices vary by country. Please contact your local distributor or Sutter Instrument for a quotation.

Quartz Glass with Filament

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
QF100-50-7.5	1.00 mm	0.50 mm	7.5 cm	100
QF100-50-10	1.00 mm	0.50 mm	10 cm	100
QF100-60-7.5	1.00 mm	0.60 mm	7.5 cm	100
QF100-60-10	1.00 mm	0.60 mm	10 cm	100
QF100-70-7.5	1.00 mm	0.70 mm	7.5 cm	100
QF100-70-10	1.00 mm	0.70 mm	10 cm	100
QF100-70-15	1.00 mm	0.70 mm	15 cm	100
QF120-60-7.5	1.20 mm	0.60 mm	7.5 cm	100
QF120-60-10	1.20 mm	0.60 mm	10 cm	100
QF120-90-10	1.20 mm	0.90 mm	10 cm	100
QF150-75-7.5	1.50 mm	0.75 mm	7.5 cm	100
QF150-75-10	1.50 mm	0.75 mm	10 cm	100

Quartz Glass without Filament

Thick-WallCapillaryNoFilament

Quartz Glass without Filament

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
Q100-30-7.5	1.00 mm	0.30 mm	7.5 cm	100
Q100-30-15	1.00 mm	0.30 mm	15 cm	100
Q100-50-7.5	1.00 mm	0.50 mm	7.5 cm	100
Q100-50-10	1.00 mm	0.50 mm	10 cm	100
Q100-70-7.5	1.00 mm	0.70 mm	7.5 cm	100
Q100-70-10	1.00 mm	0.70 mm	10 cm	100
Q114-53-10NP^*	1.14 mm	0.53 mm	10 cm	100
Q120-40-7.5	1.20 mm	0.40 mm	7.5 cm	100
Q120-60-7.5	1.20 mm	0.60 mm	7.5 cm	100
Q120-90-7.5	1.20 mm	0.90 mm	7.5 cm	100
Q120-90-10	1.20 mm	0.90 mm	10 cm	100
Q150-50-7.5	1.50 mm	0.50 mm	7.5 cm	100
Q150-75-7.5	1.50 mm	0.75 mm	7.5 cm	100
Q150-75-10	1.50 mm	0.75 mm	10 cm	100
Q150-110-10	1.50 mm	1.10 mm	10 cm	100
Q165-115-10	1.65 mm	1.15 mm	10 cm	100
^* Nanoinjection glass. The ends are not fire-polished

Theta Glass

Thin-WallThetaCapillary

Quartz Theta Glass

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
QT120-90-7.5	1.20/0.9 mm	0.15 mm	7.5 cm	50

Borosilicate Theta Glass

Catalog Number	Outside Diameter(A)	Inside Diameter(B)	Overall Length(C)	Pieces per Package
BT-150-10	1.50/1.17 mm	0.165 mm	10 cm	100

Solid Rods

Capillary Solid 1-Barrel

Quartz Solid Rod

Catalog Number	Style	Outside Diameter(A)	Overall Length(B)	Pieces per Package
QR100-7.5	solid	1.00 mm	7.5 cm	100
QR100-10	solid	1.00 mm	10 cm	100
QR100-15	solid	1.00 mm	15 cm	100

Borosilicate Solid Rod

Catalog Number	Style	Outside Diameter(A)	Overall Length(B)	Pieces per Package
BR-100-10	solid	1.00 mm	10 cm	250
BR-100-15	solid	1.00 mm	15 cm	250

Filaments & Accessories

Box Filaments

Part Number > Box Filaments
International prices vary by country. Please contact your local distributor or Sutter Instrument for a quotation.

Catalog Number	Description
FB215B	2.0 mm square box filament, 1.5 mm wide
FB220B	2.0 mm square box filament, 2.0 mm wide
FB230B	2.0 mm square box filament, 3.0 mm wide
FB255B	2.5 mm square box filament, 2.5 mm wide
FB245B¹	2.5 mm square box filament, 4.5 mm wide
FB315B	3.0 mm square box filament, 1.5 mm wide
FB320B	3.0 mm square box filament, 2.0 mm wide
FB330B	3.0 mm square box filament, 3.0 mm wide

¹ For P-87, please contact Sutter before ordering

Trough Filaments

Part Number > Trough Filaments
International prices vary by country. Please contact your local distributor or Sutter Instrument for a quotation.

Catalog Number	Description
FT315B	1.5 mm wide trough filament
FT320B	2.0 mm wide trough filament
FT330B	3.0 mm wide trough filament
FT345B	4.5 mm wide trough filament

P-30 Filaments

filament_trough

Nichrome Filaments

Part Number > P-30 Filaments
International prices vary by country. Please contact your local distributor or Sutter Instrument for a quotation.

Catalog Number	Description
PF30T15	1.5 mm wide trough filament
PF30T20	2.0 mm wide trough filament
PF30T30	3.0 mm wide trough filament
PF30N¹	Nichrome filament – 3 turns (BEFORE SN# P30-680)
PF30N-4¹	Nichrome filament – 4 turns (AFTER SN# P30-679)

¹ P-30/N pullers (serial number lower than P-30-680) came with a P30N filament installed. You can now select either the P30N or P30N-4 filament. With the P30N-4 you can use lower heat settings, pull longer tapers (2-3cm), and use aluminosilicate glass.
If you need to pull very short tapers, the P30N is recommended.

P-77A Loop Filaments

filament_loop

Part Number > P-77A Loop Filaments
International prices vary by country. Please contact your local distributor or Sutter Instrument for a quotation.

Catalog Number	Description
(SN# 160 and greater)
FL315A	3.0 mm loop filament, 1.5 mm wide
FL320A	3.0 mm loop filament, 2.0 mm wide
FL325A	3.0 mm loop filament, 2.5 mm wide
(SN# less than 160)
FL315X	3.0 mm loop filament, 1.5 mm wide
FL320X	3.0 mm loop filament, 2.0 mm wide
FL325X	3.0 mm loop filament, 2.5 mm wide

Accessories

fps

cts-1 PipetteBox

Part Number > Glass Accessories
International prices vary by country. Please contact your local distributor or Sutter Instrument for a quotation.

Part Number	Description
FPS	Fire polishing spacer for P-97, P-87, P-2000 pullers
FS1875	Platinum/iridium sheet, 18 mm x 75 mm x 0.05 mm (0.002 in)
CTS	Ceramic tile for scoring glass
BX10	Pipette storage box - Holds 10 (4 3/4 x 3 5/8 x 3/4 in)
BX20	Pipette storage box - Holds 20 (7 x 3 5/8 x 3/4 in)

Capillary Glass & Filaments

Glass Capillaries

Filaments & Accessories

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