Page 22 - Blog

WPI’s 3D SpectaSCOPE™ Inspection Scope is a revolutionary advancement for detailed visual inspection with a host of patent-pending features, including: 

• A self-zooming scope and ergonomically designed head to offer you faster inspections, less fatigue and greater accuracy. 
  Self-focus that employs sophisticated computer algorithms and a large depth of field so your subject remains in focus (even when the working distance changes). 

Ultrasonic cleaning is the most effective cleaning method for maintaining your surgical instruments, because of its cavitation. Vibrating sound waves create micron-size bubbles in solution that grow as the pressure in the unit changes. Eventually the bubbles implode. The bursting bubbles effectively dislodge debris, even in the most difficult to reach places. Use of ultrasonic detergent greatly improves the effectiveness of the cleaner, because it increases the number of tiny bubbles

1. Immediately after use, rinse instruments under warm or cool running water to remove all blood, body fluids and tissue. Dried soils may damage the instrument surface and make cleaning difficult.
   CAUTION: Do not use hot water since this causes proteinous substances to coagulate.
2. Before you begin, fill the ultrasonic cleaner with deionized water and enzymatic cleaner like Enzol according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You may also use a neutral pH or mild alkaline detergent like Alconox.
3. Run the cleaner...more

After a good cleaning and disinfection, your surgical instruments may be sterilized using a variety of methods. The chart below shows two common methods, autoclaving and cold sterilization. Sterilization destroys all microbial life. Some chemical sterilants can be used as high level disinfectants (HLD) when used for shorter exposure periods.

• You can sterilize your instruments by soaking them in a chemical sterilant like Cidex Plus® for 10 hours at 25°C. This process may be detrimental to fine instruments.
• Dry heat or autoclaving are the preferred methods of sterilizing surgical instruments. Typically, surgical instruments are sterilized by autoclaving. Autoclaving, which is saturated steam under high pressure, is the most common method for sterilizing surgical instruments. If you prefer to autoclave, instruments may be autoclaved individually or in sets.

Disposable paper or plastic pouches are ideal for autoclaving individual instruments. Use a pouch wide enough for instruments with...more

The proper care and handling of surgical instruments is the simplest way to protect your investment and add years to the life of your instruments. Here is a handy infographics showing the steps for proper surgical instrument cleaning.

When you are cleaning instruments manually, here a few quick tips:

• Use stiff plastic cleaning brushes.
• Do NOT use steel wool or wire brushes. 
• Use only neutral pH detergents. 

Take special care when you are rinsing your instruments. Here's a note of caution:

• If not rinsed properly, low pH detergents may breakdown the stainless protective surface and cause black staining. 
• High pH detergents may cause surface deposits of brown stains, which can interfere with the smooth operation of the instrument. 

This are the steps of a typical protocol.

1. Whether you are cleaning your surgical instruments manually or ultrasonically, the first step is to rinse off all blood, bodily fluids and tissue immediately after use. Dried soils may damage the instrument surface and...more

Although stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, it can still rust and stain if it is handled improperly. To determine if a discoloration is rust or just a stain, erase the discoloration with a pencil eraser. If there is pitting in the metal under the discoloration, it is corrosion. If the discoloration is removed, it was just a stain. 

• A High pH can cause a brown or orange stain on surgical instruments.
• If a stain is dark brown, the stainless steel surgical instruments have likely been exposed to a Low pH solution.
• A blue or bluish-black stain could be the result of reverse plating. This can happen if you mix metals in a cleaning cycle. For example, stainless steel instruments should not be mixed with titanium instruments. Do not place dissimilar metals (stainless steel, copper, chrome-plated, titanium, etc.) in the same cleaning cycle.
• A stain of multi-colors is caused by excessive heat.
• Light or dark spots on instruments are often caused by water droplets that dry on the surface of...more

Celloger® Mini Plus is an automated live cell imaging system that is equipped with an advanced fluorescence and bright field microscopy, autofocusing and real time multi-position imaging technology. It provides you all the tools you need to acquire the best quality images and accurate research results. Various cell-based research work and applications can be done with this all-around system.

Importance of Live Cell Imaging

Starting with the discoveries of microscopes in the 16th centuries, there have been endless desires to peer into objects that cannot be seen by the naked eye. With the development of technology and the introduction of live cell imaging, it has transformed the way researchers study cells, tissues, proteins and other cellular interactions. Live cell imaging (LCI) has became a basic analytical tool in the study of life science. Compared to studying captured images of fixed cells, observing live cells in real time provides more reliable and relevant insights into cellular...more

Surgical instruments are designed to perform diagnostic, therapeutic, or investigative operations having specific functions such as to cut or incise, retract, grasp, hold or occlude, dilate or probe, suture or ligate. 

The majority of surgical instruments are made of stainless steel or titanium (used where non-magnetic instruments are required). Stainless steel is an alloy that contains a minimum 12% chromium for corrosion resistance. Here's a quick comparison chart looking a various metals used in surgical instruments and the best applications for each.

Stainless Steel

Austenitic 316 steel, also called surgical steel or marine grade steel is the most common alloy used for WPI's standard line of instruments. Surgical steel has excellent corrosion-resistance, which makes it a good choice for biomedical implants or body piercing jewelery, as well as surgical instruments. It is in compliance with ASTM F138. Stainless steel (Inox) also has good salt resistance and temperature resistant up...more

Overview of the MICRO-ePUMP

Designed to simplify intracellular injection and a variety of other microinjection tasks, the MICRO-ePUMP uses carefully regulated air pressure for injecting cells with fluid. Injected volumes range from picoliters to nanoliters. Timing, injection pressure and compensation pressure are adjusted independently using the touch screen 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 using the foot switch.

The MICRO-ePUMP is designed to inject very small quantities of fluids, such as drugs, into cells or small organelles. Two different positive pressures may be applied with a precision timing circuit that switches between the two pressure automatically.

• The port supplies positive pressure for high-pressure ejection.
• The pressure port maintains a low positive “compensation” pressure to the injecting pipette between injection pulses to prevent fluid uptake...more

The DMF1000 is a microprocessor-controlled microforge designed for fabrication of both small patch clamp glass pipettes and larger injection pipettes. The DMF1000 can be used for polishing patch clamp pipettes, microforging holding pipettes, microforging beveled injection pipettes, and for calibrating pipette tips for microinjection. Here we will show you how to install the microforge filament on your microscope.

1.  After you turn on the power to the microscope, you must choose the desired filament.
   1. The small filament MF200-H4 is better suited for microforging pipettes 1 µm or less.
   2. The large filament DMF1000-H5 should be used for larger pipette forging, forming and sizing.
2. Mount and connect the heating filament. Push the filament into the clamp about halfway, with the filament under the objective clamp. You can adjust the position of the filament vertically and laterally in relation to the objective.
3. Lower the stage all the way and mount the filament holder on the objective. Slide...more