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Patch Clamp Electrophysiology

Operating on cellular and sub-cellular levels, patch clamp electrophysiology gauges electrical activity in individual neural or muscle cells or even single ion channels. Intricate in nature, this research technique demands stability and precision to generate a true understanding of in vitro cell cultures, removed tissue, and in vivo cells through ion flux and channel function.

As scientists, we understand that accurate, sensitive, and stable instruments generate results you can count on.

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Our array of electrophysiology equipment allows the configuration of a complete setup, customized to your specific application, from the ground up.
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Low Noise, Ultra-Fast Systems for Advanced Cellular Discovery

Patch clamp instrumentation traditionally consists of three tiers: an amplifier, a computer interface, and software.

Sutter’s full suite of electrophysiology recording hardware and software, including dPatch® patch clamp amplifier systems, micropipette pullers, and data acquisition systems, make complex experiments easier. We will help you simplify lab setup, streamline experiment workflows, automate commands, and achieve higher precision. 

Precision Instruments for Patch Clamp Electrophysiology

  • Electrophysiology Rigs
  • Patch Clamp Amplifier Systems
  • Data Acquisition & Analysis
  • Micropipette Pullers
  • Perfusion Systems and Bath Chambers
  • Stages, translators, and accessories

Resources

Article: Patch Clamp Technology in the Twenty-First Century

What is Patch Clamping? What is patch clamping? The patch clamp method involves applying suction to a "patch" of the cell membrane using a glass pipette as thin as a few micrometers. This pipette, guided by a micromanipulation system, contains a slender silver wire for electrical recording. The whole-cell patch and perforated patch methods also enable the addition of fluorescent stains (like voltage or calcium indicators) for microscopic examination, along with other testing agents.
Current clamp vs. Voltage clamp?

Current clamp is best-suited for recording resting membrane potential, action potential firing, as well as pre- and postsynaptic potentials. Network studies are often performed in this recording mode.

Voltage clamp is best suited for recording currents through individual ion channels (single-channel recordings in cell-attached, inside out or outside-out configuration) or through the sum of all ion channels in the cell membrane (whole-cell).
How do I choose an electrophysiology rig, amplifier system, or other components?

A basic patch clamp rig consists of an air table, a microscope, micromanipulators and gantry stands or stages that they are mounted on, an amplifier and data acquisition system, and typically a more or less sophisticated perfusion system. Upright microscopes can be used for tissue slice recordings, as well as dissociated or cultured cells and are found in most contemporary patch clamp rigs. An inverted microscope allows easier access to individual cells, but cannot be used for tissue slices.

The choice of the amplifier system depends on the noise and bandwidth requirements, the number of headstages and whether sophisticated applications like dynamic clamp are planned. The IPA® Integrated Patch Amplifier System is optimized for whole-cell recordings with normal bandwidth requirements. The flagship dPatch® Low Noise Ultra-Fast Digital PatchClamp Amplifier System is suitable for the most demanding applications, provides and upgrade path from one to two headstages and delivers dynamic clamp capability without the need for additional hardware.