| Electrophysiology requires accurate measurements | | | | technique is known as patch clamp. There are several |
| free of interference from outside sources such as | | | | variations of patch clamping. |
| electrical impulses and vibrations. | | | | In every instance, however, mechanical vibration and |
| Phoenix, AZ - Electro-physiologists studying the flow of | | | | electrical interference frustrate data collection. Electrical |
| ions in biological tissues must create an environment | | | | interference can be minimized by placing a Faraday |
| free of electrical interference and mechanical vibration. | | | | cage over the microscope workstation. Microscope |
| The various recording techniques used to measure | | | | manufacturers work diligently to design microscopes |
| electric current or fluctuations in voltage are not reliable | | | | that do not create vibrations by virtue of their own |
| unless such noise is eliminated. | | | | operation. Popular models include: (1) Leica DM LFS, (2) |
| In order to study the electrical properties of cells and | | | | Nikon Eclipse E600FN, (3) Olympus BX51W1/BX61W1, |
| tissues, first make a connection between the inside of | | | | and the (4) Carl Zeiss Axio Imager. Nevertheless, |
| the cell or tissue and an amplifier. This connection is | | | | environmental vibrations will still disrupt an |
| made with a glass pipette. A metal electrode or wire is | | | | electro-physiologists work. |
| connected to an amplifier, and the electrode is inserted | | | | An answer for the environmental vibration problem |
| into the pipette which is also filled with a particular | | | | that does not create electrical field interference is |
| solution (such as a chloride-based salt solution). The | | | | required. An effective solution is a mechanical and |
| pipette is maneuvered into place against the exterior | | | | passive vibration isolation bearing combined with a |
| wall of a tissue or cell with micromanipulators and held | | | | platform that is compact and designed for the footprint |
| in place with suction. The suction pulls wall membrane | | | | of the instrument to be isolated. Such a vibration |
| into the pipette making the electrical connection. Once | | | | isolation platform does not create electrical |
| the connection is made, the scientists can hold the | | | | interference since it does not have air hoses or |
| current constant and measure changes in voltage, or | | | | supporting computer hardware, and therefore it can be |
| vice versa. This electrophysiological recording | | | | placed inside the Faraday cage. |