WPI to Attend Neuroscience 2025 in San Diego

WPI will attend Neuroscience 2025, the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting, taking place November 15–19 at the San Diego Convention Center. Recognized as the world’s largest gathering of neuroscientists, the event brings together researchers, educators, and industry leaders to share discoveries and explore innovations advancing the study of the brain and nervous system.

WPI will be represented by Chief Executive Officer Mark Rutledge, Chief Science Officer Adrienne Watson, PhD, and members of our sales teams, including Gabe Gonzalez (Account Executive for North American Distribution), and Neil Derridinger (a regional account executive). This year’s meeting provides an exceptional opportunity for researchers and partners to meet directly with company representatives and discuss the latest advancements in laboratory instrumentation.

Attendees will be able to learn more about WPI’s expanding product portfolio — from precision surgical instruments and microinjection systems to TEER measurement and cell culture platforms — and explore how these tools continue to support reproducible, high-quality neuroscience research.

Neuroscience 2025 provides a unique setting for meaningful exchange. It’s where science, technology, and collaboration come together to inspire the next generation of discovery.

In addition to meeting researchers, educators, and institutional partners, WPI’s presence at Neuroscience 2025 underscores our ongoing commitment to supporting the global research community with reliable instrumentation and responsive technical expertise.

Please stop by the WPI booth #1520 to connect with our leadership and sales teams, explore featured products, and learn more about how WPI continues to empower scientists worldwide.

Join WPI in San Diego this November as we continue advancing the understanding of life through precision instrumentation.

Why Titanium Surgical Instruments are the Premium Choice for Researchers

When you spend hours at the bench or under a microscope, the smallest details in your tools make the biggest difference. The weight of your forceps, the glare from a light, the feel of a pair of scissors after repetitive use. Everything adds up. Choosing the right material isn’t just a matter of preference. It directly affects comfort, accuracy, and long‑term success in the lab.

If you’ve been relying on stainless‑steel tools, you already know they’re reliable and widely available. When you pick up a titanium surgical instrument, the difference is immediately obvious. Titanium isn’t just lighter. It’s engineered to solve many everyday challenges researchers face. WPI’s distinctive anodized blue finish is a visual cue that you’re working with premium quality instruments.

Let’s explore why titanium should be your next choice.

Lighter Weight, Less Fatigue

Holding forceps or scissors steady through long experimental sessions strains the hands and wrists. Stainless steel gets the job done, but it does so at a cost: fatigue.

Titanium instruments weigh roughly 40 % less than comparable stainless‑steel tools, meaning significantly less strain during repetitive or delicate work. Whether you’re micro‑injecting, dissecting, or performing microsurgery, you’ll notice the difference instantly. The reduced weight translates into less hand tremor, better control, and more consistent results, which are critical when it counts.

Think of it this way: the lighter your instruments, the longer you can maintain steady precision.

Non‑Glare for Better Visibility

Bright lights are essential for surgical and microscopy work, but glare from polished stainless steel can be distracting, or even blinding, at critical moments. Most titanium instruments are anodized, giving them that signature blue, non‑reflective finish.

This isn’t just aesthetic. The anodized surface eliminates glare under surgical lamps and microscopes, letting you stay focused on your sample instead of your tools. In fluorescence imaging or high‑magnification work, that extra clarity can make all the difference.

Built to Last: Durability and Corrosion Resistance

Stainless steel holds an edge well, but it isn’t invincible. Corrosion, pitting, and dulling edges mean replacements over time. Titanium instruments are built for the long haul.

• Corrosion resistance: Titanium is completely resistant to nitric acid, chloride, salt water, and a wide range of industrial and organic chemicals, making it ideal for corrosive environments, saline experiments, or labs using aggressive reagents.
• Tensile strength: Titanium matches the tensile strength of carbon steel, so forceps tips and scissor blades retain their shape even after repeated use.
• Stain‑free: Titanium stays bright and uncolored despite countless sterilizations.

If you’re tired of replacing tools that degrade, titanium offers a premium solution that actually saves money in the long run.

100 % Anti‑Magnetic

Another advantage you’ll notice is that titanium is completely non‑magnetic, a factor that matters more than you might think.

When manipulating delicate samples near magnets or MRI equipment, magnetic pull can be disruptive. With titanium, there’s no interference, making these tools ideal for electrophysiology, neuroscience, or any workflow where magnetic sensitivity is crucial. In short, titanium doesn’t just stay neutral. It actively protects the integrity of your experiment.

Stability in Extreme Conditions

Research isn’t always conducted at room temperature. Instruments are heated, cooled, and sterilized under demanding conditions. Stainless steel expands and contracts noticeably with temperature changes, which can affect durability over time.

Titanium alloys, by contrast, change less than half as much as stainless steel when exposed to heating or cooling. Add a temperature resistance up to 430 °C, and you have tools that maintain their integrity through autoclaving, sterilization cycles, and even demanding experimental setups. When consistency matters, titanium delivers reliability where it counts.

Side‑by‑Side Comparison

While stainless steel measures higher on the Rockwell hardness scale, that actually makes it more brittle. Titanium’s lower hardness score reflects its unique balance of strength and flexibility. This allows titanium instruments, especially fine-tipped forceps and micro-scissors, to keep their shape under repeated use without snapping or chipping. In other words, titanium is strong where you need it, and flexible where it matters.

Add in titanium’s superior corrosion resistance, anti-magnetic properties, and stability at high temperatures, and it’s clear why titanium instruments outperform stainless steel in the lab.

WPI’s Titanium Instrument Collection

At WPI we understand that researchers need tools that keep pace with their work. That’s why we offer nearly every common surgical instrument in titanium:

• Scissors (including ultrafine Vanna scissors for microsurgery)
• Tweezers and forceps for precision handling
• Micro‑dissection tools designed for accuracy in delicate applications

Each instrument features the blue anodized finish for non‑glare performance and easy identification in your lab. Because titanium is stain‑free and non‑corrosive, you can count on these tools to perform consistently for years.

Why Titanium Is the Premium Choice

At the end of the day, titanium isn’t just another option. It’s the premium choice for researchers who demand the best. You get:

• Lighter weight for less fatigue
• Non‑glare surfaces for better focus
• Long‑lasting durability in corrosive environments
• Anti‑magnetic performance for sensitive applications
• Stability in extreme temperatures (up to 430 °C)

When your research depends on steady hands, sharp precision, and tools that don’t fail, titanium instruments rise above stainless steel.

Ready to Upgrade?

If you’re ready to take your work to the next level, explore WPI’s full line of titanium surgical instruments. From tweezers to scissors to forceps, you’ll find the blue anodized finish that signals performance, durability, and comfort.

Make the switch today and feel the difference titanium can make in your research.

Browse Titanium Instruments Collection!

How Long Taper Tips Reduce Sample Loss in Solution

You've calibrated your pressure settings perfectly, your timing is precise, yet you're still watching expensive reagents leak into the bath solution during microinjection. Sound familiar? This frustrating scenario plays out in labs worldwide, often leading researchers to question their pump settings or injection protocols. But after years of troubleshooting with scientists using WPI's next generation microinjection systems, one critical factor emerges repeatedly: tip geometry.

Microinjection is a cornerstone technique in modern biomedical research. Whether introducing genetic material into oocytes for transgenic studies, delivering CRISPR components for gene editing, or transfecting target sites with fluorescent markers, scientists rely on precise instrumentation to achieve consistent results. At WPI, our range of pneumatic systems, the PV830, PV850, µPUMP, and MICRO-ePUMP, offer dialed-in control to deliver highly accurate and repeatable sample delivery. However, even with top-tier instrumentation, researchers sometimes experience unwanted leakage during injection.

The solution is often simpler than expected. Consistently using long taper micropipettes dramatically reduces leakage compared to short taper or blunt tips. Unless you are using a vacuum-input paired with your system set up, you will need to spend some time dialing-in your compensation/hold pressure, injection duration, and injection pressure values to ensure you are keeping a balance between your external sample bath versus your sample in your pipette tip. It is a delicate balance, and using too large or a jagged/damaged tip can quickly compromise the maintenance of your sample while your tip is submerged in a water-like environment.

This article explains why tip design matters and how long taper pipettes optimize sealing, pressure dissipation, and sample retention which ultimately ensures reliable, reproducible injections and successful transfection.

1. Smaller, Sharper Tip Seal at the Membrane

The first point of contact in any injection is the micropipette tip itself. A long taper geometry creates an extremely fine, sharp tip that seamlessly punctures the cell membrane with minimal mechanical damage. The benefit lies in the seal:

• Snug membrane fit: Because the puncture is small and precise, the membrane conforms more closely to the pipette, forming a natural seal between the extracellular bath environment versus the cellular contents. This minimizes the chance of backflow, keeping the injected material to its desired target. In oocyte microinjection, for example, this tight seal is crucial for maintaining the delicate osmotic balance required for normal development.
• Reduced leakage: Short taper or blunt tips, by contrast, produce a larger puncture site. The excess space around the tip allows solution to leak back into the surrounding medium after the injection pulse. Researchers working with expensive reagents like recombinant proteins or synthetic RNAs particularly notice this waste, as they watch their carefully prepared solutions disperse into the bath rather than remaining in the target cell.
• Preserved cell integrity: Beyond reducing leakage, smaller and more precise punctures also support overall cell viability. Cells that take on minimal mechanical disturbance at the point of injection have a better chance of survival. Simply put, a long taper pipette sets the stage for a controlled, sealed entry into the cell, reducing both waste and variability across your experimental conditions.

2. Steady Pressure Dissipation

Pneumatic injection systems rely on controlled pressure pulses to deliver cargo. Each injection is a finely balanced orchestration of triggered injection pressure, compensation (also referred to as hold or regulation pressure), and precise timing signals. While these settings can be refined on the pump side of your setup, the tip geometry and quality ultimately determine how well the fluid is confined throughout your study.

• Dampening pressure spikes: A long taper pipette acts almost like a built-in pressure regulator. Its extended geometry slows and steadies the dissipation of pressure, reducing the risk of outflow into the extracellular bath.
• Pump functionality: As pneumatic pumps operate with sharp transitions between pressure states, the fine bore of a long taper confines the injection to the calibrated volume. Researchers performing serial injections notice more consistent volumes across multiple cells when using long taper tips.
• Consistent volumes: The result of using a well pulled, long-taper tip paired with an appropriately calibrated pump is more predictable sample delivery, especially important in experiments where uniform dosing across cells or embryos is critical to downstream development of a specific trait.

Managing pressure dynamics at the micro-scale, long taper pipettes bolster the precision of WPI's pneumatic pump platforms at the cellular level.

3. Capillary Action Maintenance

Long taper pipettes also take advantage of physical principles like capillary action. Their extended geometry promotes retention of liquid cargo within the pipette until intentional positive pressure is applied.

• Avoiding premature release: Without a long taper, some liquid may seep out passively into the extracellular bath before injection even begins, leading to wasted sample and inconsistent dosing. This passive leakage is particularly problematic when working with temperature-sensitive reagents or when multiple injections must be performed from a single loaded pipette.
• Stable pre-injection state: With a long taper, the sample remains held in place until the researcher initiates a pressure pulse. This means what enters the cell is the intended volume, not an unpredictable residue after passive leakage. Researchers performing time-course experiments appreciate this reliability, as it ensures consistent starting conditions across all time points.
• Reduced contamination risk: Preventing passive release also minimizes contamination of the bath solution with high-value reagents, nucleic acids, or proteins. This preserves the experimental system and ensures reproducibility across multiple injections, particularly important in studies where the bath medium is collected for analysis.

In practice, researchers notice that long taper pipettes "behave better" during setup. The cargo stays inside the pipette, and each injection delivers cleanly, without the messy trail of unintended leaks that can compromise both individual experiments and valuable reagents.

Systematic Troubleshooting for Leakage Issues

When microinjection scientists experience leakage, they often look first at pump settings. While adjusting pressures and timing can be necessary, often the micropipette plays a definitive role. A systematic approach helps identify the root cause:

1. Examine tip geometry - Are you using long taper pipettes with fine tips? This is the most common culprit and easiest fix.
2. Check pressure calibration - Even with optimal pipettes, incorrect pressure settings can cause problems. Verify your injection, hold, and compensation pressures match your application requirements.
3. Evaluate timing parameters - Pulse duration and timing between pressure states should be optimized for your specific cell type and injection volume.
4. Assess sample preparation - Particulates or high-viscosity solutions can cause inconsistent flow, leading to apparent leakage issues.
5. Consider environmental factors - Temperature fluctuations and vibration can affect injection precision and membrane sealing.

Long taper pipettes address leakage through multiple complementary mechanisms. A snug membrane seal reduces backflow, sub-micron tips minimize mechanical damage, and capillary forces retain cargo until the exact moment of injection. They work synergistically with your pump system rather than fighting against it.

Practical Recommendations for Researchers

For scientists setting up microinjection workflows, adopting long taper pipettes as the default choice can save time, reagents, and frustration. Here are some practical tips.

• Select the right taper length: Ensure pipettes are pulled or purchased with an extended taper appropriate for your application. Embryo injection typically requires longer tapers than cultured cell work.
• Maintain consistency: Variability in hand-pulled pipettes can affect results. If pulling your own tips, develop standardized protocols or consider purchasing pre-made long taper pipettes to ensure reproducibility across experiments and lab members.
• Optimize pump integration: Even though long taper pipettes reduce leakage, proper pressure calibration remains essential. Start with manufacturer recommendations, then fine-tune based on your specific cell type and injection volumes.
• Handle with care: The ultra-fine tips of long taper pipettes can clog more easily than blunt tips. Handle carefully, ensure solutions are free of particulates, and consider filtering reagents before loading.
• Plan for applications: In CRISPR gene editing, the precision offered by long taper pipettes can improve editing efficiency by ensuring accurate delivery of guide RNAs and Cas proteins. For transgenic work, consistent volumes across embryos improve success rates and reduce variability in expression levels.

By combining WPI's pneumatic pump offerings with proper supporting pipette geometry, researchers achieve the precision needed for demanding applications across developmental biology, neuroscience, and overall genetic engineering.

MICROINJECTORS      PULLERS      LONG-TAPER TIPS      GLASS CAPILLARIES      ACCESSORIES

The Importance of Long-Taper Pipettes for Cell Transfection

When it comes to gene modification and transfection research, success often depends on the smallest details. One of the most critical factors in microinjection-based techniques is the geometry of the pipette tip.

Utilizing long taper glass pipettes is critical for gene modification/transfection research, more specifically, for microinjection-based techniques. The geometry of the long taper facilitates delivery efficiency, targeting, cell viability, and repeatability. Long taper glass pipettes offer distinct advantages that directly affect delivery efficiency, targeting accuracy, cell viability, and experimental repeatability.

Even the most precisely pulled pipette is only as effective as the microinjection system behind it. That’s why WPI not only offers a range of pneumatic microinjection systems designed to work seamlessly with pre-pulled long-tapered tips, as well as a breadth of pullers to enable researchers to achieve precise, reliable, and reproducible results.

Here is a further breakdown highlighting the importance of implementing the long-tapered tip geometry for transfection-specific microinjection applications.

1. Precision and Control

Successful transfection hinges on precision. Fine, long taper tips allow researchers to deliver genetic material, fluorescent tags, or other molecular cargo directly into specific cellular compartments, whether that’s the nucleus, cytoplasm, or yolk.

The gradual taper creates a smoother flow profile, decreasing turbulence during injection while bolstering injection targeting and reducing inconsistency from cell to cell. This means delivery is more predictable, targeting is more accurate, and variability between cells is minimized. For experiments requiring reproducibility across multiple subjects, this level of control is indispensable.

Pairing these pipettes with a reliable microinjector maximizes control over injection parameters. WPI’s pneumatic microinjector lineup, including the PV830, PV850, μPUMP, and MICRO-ePUMP offers options from analog and digital interfaces with regulated pressure control. With a wide range of pressure output from 0.01–87 PSI, our systems cover a multitude of application needs to serve your research.

2. Minimized Mechanical Stress on Cells

Maintaining cell health is as important as ensuring successful delivery. Long taper pipettes form a very sharp and slender while maintaining physical stability, enabling easy penetration with minimal disruption to the cell membrane. This design reduces the risk of membrane laceration, limits cytoplasmic seepage, and improves post-delivery cell survival rates.

In contrast, shorter tapers or blunted tips often compromise cell surfaces, causing excessive membrane damage, significantly lowering cell viability. For researchers working with delicate or scarce cell populations, using long taper pipettes is a safeguard against unnecessary cell loss.

WPI’s MICRO-ePUMP takes this a step further with its integrated MICRO-ePORE™ technology, allowing for pinpoint depolarization on the cell surface for ultra-localized delivery. This feature applies a controlled electrical pulse at the moment of penetration, further reducing the mechanical stress of insertion and boosting delivery efficiency while supporting cell viability.

3. Consistent Delivery Volumes

Reproducible sample delivery is fundamental to achieving consistent transfection outcomes. The inner diameter of a tip can be delicately controlled with pulling longer tapers, which in turn governs the injection volume.

This fine-tuned geometry ensures repeatable sample delivery across multiple trials, which is important for dependable transfection results across subjects. Whether injecting embryos, stem cells, or other sensitive cell types, reliable dosing translates into dependable results, strengthening the credibility of your data.

4. Versatility Across Cell Types

Long-taper pipettes are adaptable tools that meet the demands of different cell types, and they are particularly useful when working with small, fragile or sensitive cells such as early-stage embryos, neurons, or oocytes. The slender tip minimizes stress while achieving successful penetration. Conversely, longer pulled tips are useful for penetration of thicker membranes such as yeast or plant protoplasts.

Conclusion

In microinjection-based transfection, pipette tip design is an important technical detail to consider in your workflow. Long-taper glass pipettes combine precision, reduced stress on cells, reliable delivery volumes, versatility across cell types, as well as ensure proper pressure maintenance for sample suspension in your tip vs external cell bath.

When paired with WPI's advanced microinjectors, pullers, capillaries, and/or pre-pulled long-taper tips researchers can feel confident performing microinjections that are efficient, seamless, and highly reproducible. For laboratories at the cutting edge of gene modification and cell transfection, combining long taper pipettes with advanced injection systems is key to achieving consistent and reliable results.

Ready to Enhance Your Transfection Results?

Don't let suboptimal equipment compromise your research outcomes. Discover how WPI's precision microinjection portfolio can transform your cell transfection workflow.

Contact our team today to discuss your specific application needs or explore our complete microinjector lineup to find the perfect solution for your laboratory.

Transform your research precision—one injection at a time.

MICROINJECTORS      PULLERS      LONG-TAPER TIPS      GLASS CAPILLARIES      ACCESSORIES

NOTE: Check out our blog “How Long Taper Tips Reduce Sample Loss in Solution” for more information on importance of tip geometry on sample suspension and maintenance in an aqueous environment using a pneumatic injector.

Introducing EVOM™ Auto, Ideal for Drug Discovery

Meet the EVOM™ Auto from World Precision Instruments, the breakthrough that’s revolutionizing drug discovery. When it comes to drug discovery, reliable data on barrier function and cell integrity is essential. Transepithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) measurements have long been the gold standard for assessing barrier function and cell integrity, critical data for your research, but traditional TEER workflows are often slow, error‑prone, and labor‑intensive.

Introducing the EVOM™ Auto, WPI’s newest platform that automates TEER measurements, accelerates high‑throughput screening, and delivers the precision researchers need to move projects forward faster.

Why Traditional TEER Methods Hold Researchers Back

• Manual setup – Aligning electrodes and swapping plates can take minutes per sample, multiplied across dozens or hundreds of wells.
• Human error – Inconsistent timing, electrode placement, or data entry introduces variability that can mask subtle biological effects.
• Limited throughput – Conventional instruments typically support only a single plate format, forcing compromises in experimental design.

These bottlenecks translate into longer assay cycles, higher costs, and delayed decision‑making, all luxuries that modern drug discovery pipelines can’t afford.

How the EVOM™ Auto Changes Everything

Automation at Scale

The EVOM™ Auto handles both 24‑well and 96‑well plates, letting you run hours of manual work in a fraction of the time. Its rapid, high‑throughput screening capability means you can evaluate more compounds, more conditions, and more replicates without sacrificing data quality.

Plug‑and‑Play Flexibility

Whether you’re using Corning, Millipore, or other popular inserts, the system adapts effortlessly. Simply swap the electrode arrays and adapters. No re‑calibration required. This approach keeps the learning curve shallow and the workflow smooth.

GxP‑Ready Option

For teams that must meet Good Laboratory Practice (GxP) standards, the optional GxP module adds the necessary audit trails, data integrity checks, and compliance reporting within the same intuitive interface.

Intuitive & Flexible Control

• Wireless operation – Manage experiments from a tablet, laptop, or desktop, whether you’re at the bench or across the lab.
• Network security – If you prefer tighter controls, the instrument can be locked down to communicate only over your organization’s Ethernet network.
• Compact footprint – The slim design fits comfortably on crowded benches, inside incubators, or within sterile laminar hoods, preserving valuable workspace.
• Automated disinfection – Built‑in cleaning cycles reduce cross‑contamination risk, keeping your cultures healthy and your data reliable.

Speed & Precision

• Rapid hit identification – Shorten the time from compound library to lead candidate.
• Robust target screening – Consistently reproduce results across plates and days.
• Optimized formulation testing – Evaluate permeability and barrier integrity under varied conditions with confidence.
• Enhanced safety profiling – Detect cytotoxicity or barrier disruption early, reducing downstream failures.

By minimizing human intervention, the EVOM™ Auto cuts error rates while boosting reproducibility. These are key factors for any high‑stakes drug‑development program.

Effortless Data Export

Export results instantly in CSV or Excel format via the browser‑based software, then feed them directly into downstream analysis pipelines, statistical packages, or electronic lab notebooks. The seamless workflow eliminates tedious manual transcription and speeds up reporting.

Trusted Worldwide

Since its inception, the EVOM™ line has set the benchmark for TEER technology. Researchers across academia, biotech, and pharma rely on its proven accuracy, and thousands of peer‑reviewed publications cite EVOM™ data as a cornerstone of their findings. The EVOM™ Auto builds on this legacy, delivering the next generation of speed, precision, and usability.

Results Delivered

• Unparalleled speed – From setup to readout in minutes.
• Uncompromising precision – Consistent, high‑resolution TEER values.
• Unmatched reliability – Robust hardware and software designed for demanding labs.

Empower your research, accelerate your timelines, and stay ahead of the competition.

Ready to transform your drug‑discovery workflow?

Contact WPI today to learn how the EVOM™ Auto can fit into your laboratory.

IMPROVE YOUR EFFICIENCY

Micrometer Maintenance Tips: Ensure Precision & Longevity

Micrometers are the backbone of precision measurement in laboratory research. These sophisticated instruments, whether integrated into complex equipment or used as standalone tools, are critical for maintaining the accuracy that scientific work demands. Yet many researchers overlook a simple truth: even the finest micrometer is only as reliable as the care it receives.

Proper maintenance isn't just about extending instrument life. It's about protecting the integrity of your research data. A poorly maintained micrometer can introduce measurement errors that cascade through entire experiments, compromising months of work.

Micrometers in the Lab

While standalone micrometer calipers are familiar to most researchers, these precision mechanisms are embedded throughout modern laboratories. Micromanipulators depend on micrometer drives to position electrodes and pipettes with sub-micron accuracy in electrophysiology and microinjection applications. Microscope stages use micrometer mechanisms for the smooth, controlled specimen movement that high-resolution imaging demands. Stereotaxic frames in neuroscience research rely on integrated micrometers to guide surgical instruments to precise brain coordinates. Each application demands the same meticulous care.

Tips for Micrometer Maintenance

Start with Cleanliness

The foundation of micrometer care is simple: keep it clean. After each use, gently wipe all surfaces with a lint-free cloth to remove dust, oils, and residue that accumulate during normal operation. For more stubborn contamination, use a soft cloth or cotton swab dampened with isopropyl alcohol.

This seemingly basic step prevents critical wear on the spindle and anvil, the heart of your micrometer's precision. Clean contact surfaces ensure consistent, repeatable readings every time.

Calibration: Your Accuracy Safety Net

Even premium micrometers drift over time due to mechanical wear and environmental factors. Regular verification against certified gauge blocks should be part of your routine, while professional calibration, recommended annually for high-use laboratory environments, keeps instruments operating within specified tolerances.

Most calibration adjustments are straightforward, but the peace of mind they provide is invaluable. When your measurements matter, calibration is not optional.

Avoid Lubrication

Avoid oiling or greasing the guide surfaces. These are finely machined and typically stay smooth for years without intervention. Adding oil here can actually attract dust and compromise accuracy. If movement ever feels rough, it’s better to have the instrument professionally serviced rather than risk over-lubrication.

Smart Handling

Handle your micrometers with intentionality. Always use the ratchet or friction thimble to close the instrument gently. Forcing the spindle can damage the precisely machined threads and measuring surfaces that define accuracy. 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 your manipulator, close those up so the guide tracks are completely covered. If the manipulator is not in use for a long period of time, be sure to occasionally work the slides back and forth to keep the grease pliable.

Protective Storage Pays Dividends

When not in use, micrometers should be protected from dust, humidity, and accidental damage. Extreme temperatures and humidity are enemies of precision instruments, while proper storage shields them from accidental impacts that can knock them out of calibration.

For handheld micrometer tools, storing them in their cases is ideal. For integrated micrometers, such as those on microscope stages or stereotaxic frames, a fitted dust cover or protective lab cover offers a simple way to shield sensitive components without interfering with the setup. Keeping instruments covered helps preserve precision and reduces the need for frequent cleaning or repair.

The Investment in Precision

Micrometers are often called the silent guardians of laboratory accuracy, and for good reason. Whether guiding a delicate neural probe, positioning a critical specimen, or verifying the dimensions of a calibration standard, these instruments work behind the scenes to ensure your research meets the highest standards.

The habits that protect this precision, like regular cleaning, systematic calibration, proper lubrication, careful handling, and thoughtful storage, require minimal time but deliver maximum return on your instrument investment.

Ready to Optimize Your Lab's Precision?

Great science demands precision tools, properly maintained. If you need guidance on selecting the right systems for your research or want expert advice on maintenance protocols, WPI's technical team brings decades of precision instrument experience to every conversation. Contact us. We're here to help your research reach its full potential.

EXPLORE MICROMANIPULATORS

Forceps vs. Clamps: Understanding Their Different Roles

In surgical and laboratory settings, instruments are designed for highly specific functions. Two of the most common, forceps and clamps, may appear similar at first glance, but they serve distinct purposes. Understanding their differences helps researchers, veterinarians, and surgeons choose the right tool for precision and safety.

Forceps

Forceps are precision instruments primarily designed for grasping, manipulating, and extracting delicate tissues or materials. They come in tweezer-like (thumb forceps) or hinged (locking) forms, and they feature fine tips and controlled jaw pressure, making them ideal for delicate work like tissue handling, suture placement, or foreign body removal. The key characteristics include variable grip strength, precise tip control, and often specialized designs for specific applications, like dissection and microsurgery where you need to hold tissue without causing crushing damage. They may be used for handling sutures, small animals, or laboratory specimens or for tissue sampling. They prioritize precision and control over firm occlusion.

Common types WPI carries include:

• Thumb Forceps – for general tissue handling.
• Dumont Forceps – highly precise, often used in microsurgery.
• Microdissection Forceps – for delicate laboratory and veterinary applications.

These instruments prioritize precision and control over firm occlusion, ensuring delicate tissue can be manipulated without crushing damage.

Clamps

Clamps, on the other hand, are designed to compress and occlude vessels, tissue or tubing. Their primary function is to temporarily stop blood flow by clamping blood vessels, or to hold tissues firmly in place during procedures. They typically provide stronger, more sustained pressure than forceps and often have locking mechanisms to maintain consistent compression without continuous manual pressure.

Common types WPI offers include:

• Mosquito Hemostats – small, delicate clamps used to control bleeding in fine vessels.
• Kelly and Crile Hemostats – versatile hemostats for medium vessels.
• Allis Clamps – used to hold fascia and tissue firmly.
• Babcock Clamps – for delicate tissue.
• Backhaus Towel Clamps – for securing drapes during surgery.

Clamps are made for secure closure and hemostasis, not delicate handling. They are indispensable when consistent, sustained pressure is required. It is important to note that hemostats are a type of clamp specifically designed to control bleeding, while other clamps, like intestinal, vascular, and towel clamps, serve other purposes such as temporarily occluding organs, securing blood vessels, or holding drapes in place. WPI also offers a range of these specialty clamps to support diverse surgical and laboratory needs, including Micro Bulldog Clamps, Dieffenbach Bulldog Clamps, Glover Bulldog Clamps, Jones Towel Clamps, and Backhaus Towel Clamps.

Key Differences

While forceps excel in precision handling and tissue manipulation, clamps are indispensable when consistent pressure or occlusion is needed. Together, they form the backbone of surgical and laboratory instrument sets, each ensuring accuracy, control, and safety in its own role.

The fundamental difference lies in their intended function: forceps manipulate and grasp with finesse, while clamps compress and control with force. Forceps excel at tasks requiring dexterity and gentle handling, whereas clamps are essential for hemostasis (bleeding control) and securing tissues that need to remain stationary.

At WPI, we supply a full range of forceps and clamps, from fine microdissection tools to reliable hemostatic clamps, trusted by researchers, veterinarians, and laboratories worldwide. Explore our full catalog of surgical instruments today and find the right tools for your lab or practice.

Shop Forceps and Clamps

Understanding TEER: A Key Tool for Studying Barrier Integrity

Why Barrier Integrity Matters

Cell barriers, such as the intestinal epithelium, blood–brain barrier, or corneal endothelium, are critical for controlling what enters and exits tissues. A compromised barrier can lead to disease, while a strong barrier is essential for maintaining health.

Understanding how our body's protective barriers function is crucial for advancing treatments and developing new therapies. For researchers, accurately measuring barrier integrity is vital in fields ranging from drug development to disease modeling. One of the most important tools scientists use to study these barriers is TEER (Transepithelial Electrical Resistance or Transendothelial Electrical Resistance). This powerful measurement technique provides valuable insights into the integrity and function of cellular barriers that protect our organs and tissues. TEER is a gold-standard, non-invasive technique for quantifying the integrity and permeability of cell monolayers grown in culture.

What is TEER?

TEER is a quantitative measurement of the electrical resistance across a cellular monolayer. In simpler terms, it measures how well a layer of cells blocks the passage of ions and small molecules, essentially testing how "tight" the cellular barrier is. The measurement is expressed in ohms per square centimeter (Ω·cm²) and reflects the integrity of tight junctions between adjacent cells. In simple terms:

• High TEER values indicate tight junctions between cells and a well-formed, low-permeability barrier.
• Low TEER values suggest leaky or compromised barriers, where ions and molecules can pass more freely.

TEER measurements work on a fundamental principle of electrical resistance. Researchers typically grow cells on permeable supports or inserts. When cells form a monolayer with intact tight junctions, they create a barrier that restricts the movement of ions. This restriction increases electrical resistance across the cell layer. Electrodes placed above and below the cell monolayer apply a small current, and the resistance is measured. This resistance reflects how well the cell junctions block ion flow, serving as a proxy for barrier function.

The measurement process involves:

1. Electrode Placement: Two electrodes are positioned on opposite sides of the cell monolayer, with one in the apical (top) chamber and one in the basolateral (bottom) chamber.
2. Current Application: A small, alternating current is applied across the cell layer.
3. Voltage Measurement: The voltage drop across the monolayer is measured.
4. Resistance Calculation: Using Ohm's law (V = IR), the resistance is calculated and normalized for the surface area.

Why Use TEER?

The beauty of TEER is that it’s:

• Quantitative: Provides numerical data that can be tracked over time.
• Non-destructive: Unlike dye permeability assays, TEER doesn’t damage cells.
• Real-time: Measurements can be taken repeatedly during experiments to follow barrier development, drug response, or injury.
• Reproducible: Standardized protocols yield consistent results.
• Cost-effective: Relatively inexpensive compared to other barrier assessment methods.
• High throughput: Multiple samples can be measured quickly using an automated system like WPI’s EVOM™ Auto.

TEER primarily reflects the resistance of tight junctions between cells, cell membranes themselves, and the paracellular pathway (the space between cells). When tight junctions are well-formed and functional, they significantly increase the electrical resistance, resulting in higher TEER values.

WPI pioneered TEER measurement solutions with the EVOM™ series of manual and automated systems, as well as specialized electrodes designed for reproducibility and precision. These systems allow researchers to measure TEER in cell culture inserts of various sizes, track barrier formation over time, and compare experimental conditions quickly and reliably.

A Window into Barrier Health

TEER is more than just a measurement. It’s a window into the health and function of cell barriers. TEER provides researchers with a powerful tool to understand how our body's protective barriers work and fail. From studying neurological diseases affecting the blood-brain barrier to investigating inflammatory bowel conditions that compromise intestinal integrity, TEER measurements offer valuable insights into human health and disease. Whether studying disease, testing new therapies, or engineering advanced models, TEER provides a reliable, quantitative tool to advance discovery.

For researchers embarking on barrier function studies, mastering TEER measurement techniques opens doors to a wealth of research possibilities. Whether investigating fundamental cell biology questions or developing the next generation of therapeutic interventions, TEER remains an indispensable tool in the modern researcher's toolkit.

Understanding and properly implementing TEER measurements can significantly enhance research quality and contribute to advancing our knowledge of how biological barriers protect and maintain human health. As we continue to face new health challenges, from neurodegenerative diseases to inflammatory conditions, TEER measurements will undoubtedly play a crucial role in developing effective solutions.

At WPI, we proudly support scientists worldwide with trusted TEER instruments and accessories that make barrier research accessible, accurate, and reproducible.

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Preventing Cross-Contamination with Lab Scissors: Essential Guide for Small Animal Surgery

You’re halfway through a procedure when it hits you... The surgical scissors in your hand were just used for something else. In a busy university research lab, that’s all it takes for cross-contamination to creep in. These unsung heroes of small animal surgery are always within reach, but if they move from one task to another without proper decontamination, they can silently sabotage months of careful work. One contamination event can invalidate entire data sets, force costly repeat procedures, or worse, compromise animal welfare.

The good news? Preventing cross-contamination doesn’t require an overhaul of your entire protocol. With strategic planning and consistent execution, you can protect your research integrity while maintaining efficient surgical workflows.

Foundation Practices: Getting the Basics Right

Once these habits are second nature, you’ll have a solid defense against contamination risks.

Assign Scissors by Function, Not Convenience

Dedicate specific instruments to specific roles, like tissue dissection, suture cutting, or general prep work. Color-coded handles, instrument tags, or dedicated storage trays make this intuitive for everyone on your team. This ensures scissors used for non-sterile prep never accidentally enter a sterile surgical field.

Clean Immediately and Thoroughly

Resist the urge “deal with it later.” Dried biological material becomes exponentially harder to remove once it dries, creating microscopic contamination reservoirs. Consider implementing a decontamination protocol like this:

1. Rinse instruments immediate with distilled water to remove debris.
2. Soak them for 2-3 minutes in an enzymatic cleaner (Endozime) to break down proteins and lipids.
3. Perform an ultrasonic cleaning (for surgical scissors) to reach hinges and serrations that manual scrubbing misses.
4. Inspect the pivot points and blade edges under good lighting.

Sterilize Properly

Heat sterilization remains the gold standard for eliminating pathogens. Autoclave at 120°C (250°F) for 15 minutes using your institution’s validated parameters. For time-sensitive procedures, chemical sterilants or low-temperature plasma are alternatives, as long as you confirm they meet IACUC guidelines.

Store Sterile Instruments Correctly

Clean scissors only remain sterile when properly protected. Use sterilization pouches with indicators, covered trays, or cassette systems. In shared labs, establish visual cues so team members instantly know which instruments are sterile versus “in process.”

Make It a Team Priority

Contamination prevention must be a team commitment. Post cleaning protocols at surgical stations, assign instrument responsibility during procedures, and train new members thoroughly. When everyone understands the stakes, clean instruments become automatic.

Advanced Strategies: Taking Contamination Prevention Further

Once the basics are part of your daily routine, you can strengthen your protocols with these advanced practices.

Equipment Optimization

Choose the right tool: Spring scissors excel for delicate work, while heavy-duty shears handle tougher materials. Blunt tips reduce accidental punctures, while sharp points allow precise dissection. Matching instrument design to surgical requirements improves outcomes and reduces tissue trauma.

Maintain pivot points: Hinge mechanisms and screw joints are contamination magnets. Inspect weekly for stiffness, corrosion, or pitting. Damaged surfaces can harbor microbes even after sterilization.

Save surgical scissors for surgery: Cutting suture packets or paper dulls blades and creates burrs which can trap contaminants. Keep separate utility scissors for non-biological tasks and reserve your premium surgical instruments for their designated tasks.

Workflow Management

Rotate instruments: Maintain multiple scissor sets so sterilization never bottlenecks your schedule. While one set is in decontamination, backups keep procedures on track. This prevents the dangerous temptation to "make do" with questionable instruments during back-to-back procedures.

Document sterilization cycles: In regulated environments, tracking isn’t optional. It’s a compliance requirement. Use simple logs or indicator stickers to ensure nothing slips through the cracks in shared spaces, especially in busy shared facilities where instruments pass through multiple hands.

Team Training

Explain the “why”: When people understand the consequences and the reasons for protocols, teams experience greater compliance. During onboarding and periodic refresher trainings, explain how instrument contamination can derail weeks of data collection or compromise animal welfare. Make the connection between careful instrument handling and successful research outcomes.

Audit regularly: Even well-designed systems drift over time. Quarterly reviews of instrument handling, cleaning procedures, and storage practices help catch developing bad habits before they cause problems.

When Things Go Wrong

Even with best practices, contamination concerns can arise. Be ready with an emergency protocol:

• Immediate isolation: Set suspected contaminated instruments aside in a designated "quarantine" area.
• Switch to backup sets: This is why instrument rotation matters.
• Document the incident: Record what happened, when, and what corrective actions you took.
• Review and adjust: Use incidents as learning opportunities to strengthen your protocols.

Common Troubleshooting

Sticky scissors after cleaning? The problem is likely residual cleaning solution or inadequate rinsing. Extend your rinse time and use distilled water for the final rinse.

Losing sharpness quickly? Check for improper use on paper or non-biological materials or excessive ultrasonic exposure.

Inconsistent compliance? Make instrument care part of lab safety assessments.

Small Steps, Big

In research, small lapses can cascade into major setbacks. By treating your surgical scissors with the same precision you bring to experimental design, you protect both research integrity and animal welfare. The extra minutes invested in proper care today save hours of troubleshooting tomorrow, keeping your work moving forward without preventable interruptions.

Your scissors are more than tools. They’re guardians of research quality. Treat them accordingly, and they’ll serve your scientific mission reliably for years to come.

WPI Is Here to Help

At WPI, we understand that the right instrument, and the right storage equipment, makes all the difference in both surgical success and contamination prevention. That’s why we offer a comprehensive selection of ring scissors and spring scissors for the life sciences industry, available in titanium, stainless steel, and ceramic-coated finishes, as well as in a variety of shapes and sizes to match your exact surgical needs.

To protect your investment, we also carry sterilization baskets and cassettes designed to store and transport your scissors safely from autoclave to surgical station, helping you maintain the sterile conditions your research depends on.

Protect your research. Protect your results.

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8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Hemostatic Forceps

Improving Surgical Outcomes with the Right Tools and Techniques

In university small animal research, surgical precision directly impacts both data reliability and animal welfare. Hemostatic forceps are essential instruments for controlling bleeding and minimizing trauma. From fine Mosquito Forceps for microsurgery to robust Rochester Carmalt clamps for larger vessels, choosing the right instrument, and using it correctly, can dramatically improve your surgical outcomes.

But even experienced lab teams can fall into bad habits. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid, along with guidance on selecting the best hemostatic forceps for your protocols.

Common Mistakes That Compromise Research Outcomes

1. Misusing Hemostats as Tissue Retractors

Hemostatic forceps are precision-engineered for vascular occlusion, not tissue manipulation. Using Crile Hemostats or Kelly Forceps as makeshift retractors can crush delicate structures like nerves, lymphatics, or fascia, introducing uncontrolled trauma variables that compromise longitudinal studies and regenerative research models. Reserve hemostats for their intended purpose and use dedicated tissue forceps for positioning and exposure.

2. Over-Clamping and Excessive Pressure

Research protocols demand consistent, reproducible surgical conditions. Excessive clamping force crushes vessels and can trigger inflammatory responses, potentially skewing physiological data. Apply only the minimum pressure required for hemostasis and avoid repeated clamping at the same site to prevent tissue necrosis, which could affect healing and behavior-based studies.

3. Instrument Selection Mismatches

Using oversized forceps in mouse or rat procedures obscures visualization and increases tissue trauma, potentially introducing variables that affect research reproducibility. Mosquito Forceps (3.5-4 inches) are optimal for rodent microsurgeries and fine vessel work, while Kelly Hemostatic Forceps or Rochester Carmal Hemostats excel in deeper abdominal procedures or for larger vessels. For medium-sized vessels and general hemostasis, Crile Hemostats offer the perfect balance between precision and clamping strength.

4. Poor Handling Technique

Although hemostatic forceps have ring handles like scissors, proper control comes from more than just finger placement in the rings. Once your thumb and typically your ring finger are positioned in the rings, rest your index finger along the shaft near the box lock or pivot point for maximum dexterity. This offers greater control and stabilizes the forceps during clamping. Gripping too far back on the handle (proximally) reduces tactile feedback and increases the risk of accidental slips. Avoid holding the instrument by just the rings alone without anchoring the front section, as this increases wobble, reduces your ability to feel tissue resistance, and raises the risk of accidental slips or torque.

Ensure the ratchet engages fully when locking, because partial engagement can lead to vessel slippage during critical moment, and over-locking crushes tissue and causes ischemia. You can test the ratchet hold on gauze before tissue contact to verify appropriate pressure. Never twist or torque the instrument once it is clamped. This destabilizes tissue planes which can cause tissue damage, and it weakens the instrument joint.

5. Cross-Contamination Between Subjects

Even trace biological residue between procedures introduces infection risk and can transfer proteins that confound immunological data, potentially nullifying control groups in pathogen, immune response, or wound healing studies. Always clean and sterilize all hemostatic forceps between each procedure, even during consecutive operations within the same session.

6. Inadequate Pre-Surgical Inspection

Misaligned jaws or damaged ratchets create inconsistent clamping pressure, potentially leading to vessel slippage during critical moments. Inspect each instrument before every procedure. Jaws should align perfectly when closed, and ratchets should engage smoothly without binding.

7. Cross-Contamination Between Subjects

Even trace biological residue between procedures introduces infection risk and can transfer proteins that confound immunological data—potentially nullifying control groups in pathogen, immune response, or wound healing studies. Always clean and sterilize all hemostatic forceps between each procedure, even during consecutive operations within the same session.

8. Inadequate Instrument Maintenance

Research-grade instruments require meticulous care to maintain precision. Blood residue and improper cleaning protocols accelerate corrosion, affecting jaw alignment and grip reliability. Store forceps in padded trays or slot-style organizers to prevent misalignment. Never stack delicate instruments with scissors or needle holders. Delicate surgical instruments are easily damaged when stored loosely or stacked in trays with heavier tools. Forceps with fine jaws, in particular, are prone to bending and misalignment.

Follow manufacturer decontamination guidelines and store instruments in protective environments to preserve their calibrated performance.

Choosing the Right Hemostatic Forceps for Your Lab

Different research protocols demand different instruments. Here’s a quick-reference guide to help you choose the right hemostatic forceps for your application:

Enhance Your Surgical Setup with WPI

Research applications demand instruments that deliver consistent performance across hundreds of procedures. The right hemostatic forceps selection ensures reproducible surgical conditions, minimizes variables that could affect experimental outcomes, and supports animal welfare compliance.

Ready to upgrade your forceps selection?

Let your surgical instruments support, not sabotage, your data quality and small animal care standards. From micro-surgical instruments to complete surgical kits, find the exact tools your research protocols demand at WPI. Contact our research specialists at wpi@wpiinc.com for expert guidance.

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