Page 2 - Microinjection Videos

PUL-1000 is a microprocessor controlled, four-stage, horizontal puller for making glass micropipettes or microelectrodes used in intracellular recording, patch clamp, microperfusion and microinjection. The PUL-1000 is capable of producing a vast array of pipette shapes, such as a long graduated taper, a short graduated taper and a short taper bee stingers. Here's a quick introduction the PUL-1000 research puller.

The PUL-1000 puller was designed with tight mechanical specifications and precision electronics for complete control of the pulling process and accurate reproducibility. It offers programmable sequences of up to four steps with heating, force, movement and cooling time. A glass capillary is heated by a platinum/iridium filament and pulled by a controlled force. The PUL-1000 is capable of producing a vast array of pipette shapes, such as a long graduated taper, a short graduated taper and a short taper bee stingers.

Programming

The settings for a 4-stage pull may be stored in...more

NanoFil™ is a unique low volume syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. It comes in both 10 and 100 microliter volumes and can be paired with a UMP3 UltraMicroPump for making accurate microliter injections. NanoFil stainless steel needles range in size from 33 to 36 gauge.

NanoFil™ is a unique low volume syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. It makes quantitative nanoliter injection much easier and more accurate than any other method.

NANOFIL is a 10microliter syringe, and NANOFIL-100 is a 100 µL syringe. The large volume of the syringe is useful for applications that require multiple injections. The speed of the flow at the needle of the NANOFIL-100 can be 10 times faster than the 10 µL NanoFil when used with UMP3 UltraMicroPump. The limitation of the 100 µL syringe is that the injection volume resolution is lower than that of the 10 µL syringe.

Reduced Needle Size and Dead Volume

The design reduces the...more

NanoFil™ is a unique low volume gas tight syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. Here we show you several ways in which the NanoFil can be used for making injections. You can install the syringe on WPI’s UMP3 UltraMicroPump, using SilFlex tubing and a holder, so you can accurately inject by hand. You can install it in a stereotaxic frame. You can also directly inject by hand.

NanoFil can be used in several different configurations:

1. Install it on WPI’s UMP3 UltraMicroPump, which allows nanoliter resolution and reproducibility. For neural system injection, you can mount the UMP3 on a stereotaxic frame.
   
   
2. You can use SilFlex tubing and a holder. Mount the needle on a small plastic holder and connected it to the NanoFil by a 35 cm length of flexible tubing. Then mount the NanoFil on the UMP3 pump. This lets you hold the animal in one hand and insert the needle with the other. When the needle reaches the desired location, activate the pump using the...more

NanoFil™ is a unique low volume syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. NanoFil needles are specially designed with a small outside diameter and spear point for shallow penetration and to cause the least amount of tissue damage. 

Specially designed tips as small as 36 gauge (110 micron OD) are offered in both blunt and beveled styles. These tips will cause less trauma to the tissue than any other form of micro syringe currently in use. NanoFil can be used with many forms of small tubing and tips coupled with the syringe barrel.

• The blunt tip is used for injection into soft tissue and when a uniform solution distribution is needed.
• The beveled style is used for applications that involve penetration of tough tissue.

Diffusion at the Tip Minimized

With a 36-gauge needle installed on the NanoFil, the error caused by diffusion at the tip is be reduced to the sub-nanoliter level, compared with the upper 10s of nanoliter range of 100 µm syringes...more

NanoFil™ is a unique low volume syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. During our field trials, the 35-gauge needle was scientists’ most popular and preferred NanoFil tip. The combination of its strength, length, durability and clogging resistance creates a solid balance.

The 33-gauge tip is similar to Hamilton's 7762 and 7803 series removable needles in both tip length and outer diameter. However, our beveled tip version is shorter, more durable, and penetrates better due to the special tri-surface grinding technique. 33-gauge tips used to be the smallest size sold, but our 35-gauge tip is much better for injections involving small animals, especially mice.

Reduce Penetration Depth by 80%

By choosing the 35-gauge tri-beveled NanoFil tips, you can reduce the depth of penetration by almost 80% when compared with Hamilton's 33-gauge, 10-degree beveled tip. The NanoFil penetration is 230 microns versus 348 for the Hamilton. The smaller tip size significantly...more

NanoFil™ is a unique low volume syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. Here we'll show you how to install your needle in a way that prevents damage to the gasket and keeps your needles straight.

The NanoFil syringe system utilizes a seal system that is based on a 0.46 mm shank diameter. Any needle or tubing with an outside diameter of 0.46 mm should fit the NanoFil’s seal system. Here is how to install your needle in a way that prevents damage to the gasket and keeps your needles straight.

PRO TIP: Always use surgical gloves to prevent the oils from your skin from affecting the needle or the gasket.

1. To change or install a needle, loosen the screw cap by turning it counterclockwise to release the compression of the seal. If there is a needle in place, it should pull out easily.
   
   
2. Remove the screw cap and the gasket from the syringe.
   
   
3. Install the replacement needle by pushing the shank of the needle into the open hole in the screw cap...more

NanoFil™ is a unique low volume syringe developed for improved microinjection in mice and other small animals. Using a UMP3 UltraMicroPump combined with the syringe allows you to make repeatable injections in the nanoliter range. Here we'll show you how to install a NanoFil Syringe on the UMP3 UltraMicroPump.

NanoFil syringes are 10 µL and 100 µL syringes which can be installed on a UMP3 UltraMicroPump to give you repeatable injections in the nanoliter range. We will use the collar of the NanoFil syringe and the plunger as the two points to anchor the syringe to the pump.

1. The syringe clamps are located at the end of the UMP3 pump head. Depress the clamp release button to open the syringe clamps. 
   
   
2. Position the cap of the plunger into the plunger cap holder at the rear end of the UltraMicroPump.
   
   
3. Then slide the syringe collar into the into position next to the collar stop. 
   
   
4. Slide the syringe body into the syringe clamp so that the syringe collar fits snugly against...more

Pulling micropipettes or microelectrodes is a science and an art, requiring some finesse. Here we discuss the five major factors which can affect the shape of a pulled glass micropipette or microelectrode.

The PUL-1000 is a microprocessor controlled, four-stage, horizontal puller for making glass micropipettes or microelectrodes. Here we will look at factors that affect the pulling of glass. 

As the temperature of glass increases, the glass transitions gradually from a hard and relatively brittle solid state into a soft and viscous state. To form glass into certain shapes using a puller, heat is applied through a filament. Many factors affect the heat transferred from a filament to a glass capillary.

1. The filament holders heat up when current passes through the filament, which can get even hotter as the puller is used continuously. To reduce the heat residue built-up, allow time for the colder ambient air to cool the components. 
   
   
2. The convection of air in the ambient environment (both inside...more

Manual micromanipulators are common equipment in a laboratory, and with proper care and handling they should last many years. Here's a few tips on how to take care of your new manipulator.

Your micro manipulator is a precision instrument, and it has been calibrated at the factory and is ready to use. As with any delicate mechanical device, your care and attention ensure long-term accurate performance. The following are some helpful hints that make this possible.

• When handling a micromanipulator like the M3301 or the KITE, always set it down carefully. Dropping it even a short distance can damage the general alignment and the adjustment.
  
  
• When it's not in use, close all the slides. When the guides are exposed, dust can get in those tracks. When you're not using you manipulator, you want to close those up so the guide track are completely covered.
  
  
• Always cover the micromanipulator with a plastic bag or some kind of covering to keep the dust off. Dust particles and...more

The M3301 is a popular micromanipulator used for laboratory research. Here we will show you how to mount a microelectrode holder on the M3301 Micromanipulator. The procedure is very similar for most manual micromanipulators.

In this video, we use the popular M3301 Micromanipulator to demonstrate how to mount a standard electrode holder. This M3301 is mounted on an M-3 Tilt Base which allows you to position it the way you want. The Tilt Base is mounted on a 5-lb. Weighted Base (WPI #5464) for stability. To mount the microelectrode holder on the micromanipulator:

1. Loosen the knurled thumb screw on the top of the micromanipulator.
2. Slide your microelectrode holder under the clamp and position where you want it.
3. Tighten the knurled thumb screw.

If you have any questions, give us a call at (866) 606-1974 (Toll free in the USA) or email us at wpi@wpiinc.com.

See All Manual Manipulators

Over time, you may experience mechanical drift in one or more of the axes of your manual micromanipulator. Here we show you how to adjust for that. The process is similar for other styles of manual micromanipulators. We will look at the process for adjusting all three axes of a KITE micromanipulator.

A micromanipulator axis may begin to move gradually under its own weight even if it's not being touched. This phenomenon is referred to as mechanical drift, and it occurs from normal use of the manipulator axes over time. Each coarse axis control of the micromanipulator has its own separate adjustment to counteract drift. Let's look at the popular M3301 Micromanipulator. The procedure we're using also works for an MD4, a KITE and an MMJ Micromanipulator. Each course axis control on the micromanipulator has its own adjustments. Your X, Y and Z axis controls are located on a single plane at the back of the manipulator. The X-axis fine control is on the top, the ...more

M3301 is a popular manual micromanipulator at WPI. These manipulators are typically mounted on a stand or table to ensure stability. In this video we show you how to mount the manipulator on an Tilt Base (WPI# M-3) with a WPI# 5464 5 lb. weighted base.

When we mount a micromanipulator on an M-3 tilt base, the tilt base can be adjusted to position the micromanipulator right where you want it. We will use our popular M3301 micromanipulator to demonstrate.

1. The first thing we need to do is remove the ring clamp from the bottom of the micromanipulator. There are two screws that we need to remove with an allen key. Save the screws, because we will use them in a minute. Set the ring clamp aside.
   
   NOTE: Notice that the mounting bracke has four holes in it. Two are used for mounting a left handed, and two are used for a right handed manipulator. You will never use all four. Likewise, you have several holes in the bottom of the manipulator. We will only use two...more

Over time, you may experience mechanical drift in one or more of the axes of your manual micromanipulator. Here we show you how to adjust for that. The process is similar for other styles of manual micromanipulators. We will look at the process for adjusting all three axes of a KITE micromanipulator.

Let's talk about mechanical drift on a micromanipulator and how to correct it. In this demonstration, we will use the popular KITE. A manipulator axis may begin to move gradually under its own weight, even if it's not being touched. This is called mechanical drift, and it happens from normal use of the manipulator over time. Each course axis control on the micromanipulator has its own adjustments. This procedure is very similar to the one we used for adjusting an M3301 micromanipulator. It also works similarily on an MD4 or an MMJ. Your X, Y and Z axis controls are located on a single plane at the back of the manipulator. The X-axis fine control is on the top, the X-axis...more

Magnetic stands act as an invaluable extra hand around the laboratory to hold an electrode, digital dials or tools. The base houses a strong magnet which can be activated by turning the switch. Position the magnetic stand on a weighted steel base plate or metal desk and rotate the dial counter-clockwise to engage the magnet. We offer multiple styles of magnetic stands, but these videos show a couple options.

Flexible Magnetic Stand  

The M11 Flexible Magnetic Stand is ideal for probe holders and other lightweight objects. The flexible arm bends like a snake and locks into position with a flick of the control lever. Here we show you how easy it is to set it up.

Magnetic Stand with Adjustment Arm

The M9 Magnetic Stand has an adjustment arm. We'll show you how to easily position it and set it in place. The magnetic base can be easily engaged or disengaged so that you can mount the stand firmly to a metal desk or weighted metal base plate.

See All Magnetic Stands

[by Gabe Gonzalez]

The PV850 Injector is designed to simplify intracellular injection and a variety of other microinjection tasks. The PV850 uses regulated air pressure for injecting cells with fluid. Injected volumes range from picoliters to nanoliters. The port supplies positive pressure for high-pressure ejection maximum of 87 PSI. The PV850 Microinjector offers separate regulated compensation (back filling prevention) and ejection pressures with a precision timing circuit that switches from injection pressure to compensation pressure automatically. Timing, injection pressure and compensation pressure are adjusted independently using the intuitive touch-screen user interface. Time intervals can range from 2 seconds down to 10 ms or less, depending on the injection pressure setting. The injection pressure interval is triggered by using a foot switch, manually or a computer controlled TTL pulse. The PV850 is designed to inject very small quantities of fluids, such as drugs into cells...more