PatchServer

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Overview

Pipette Based Automatic Patch-Clamp System

The PatchServer is world-wide the only automatic patch-clamp system that is able to establish single-channel and whole-cell recording configurations using tools and techniques from the manual patch approach. The PatchServer is an add-on tool for manual patch-clamp setups. It utilizes standard glass electrodes and employs step-by-step the manual patch-clamp procedure of a human experimenter.

PatchServer specific components
Specific PatchServer parts are added to a manual patch-clamp setup to form a fully functional PatchServer
Fully automatic patch-clamp procedure with standard glass electrodes
The PatchServer utilizes tools and techniques of the manual patch approach
All suspend-able cell types can be patched
Every cell type with a minimum diameter of ~10 µm and that can be brought into solution, can be patched by the PatchServer
Modular construction
Depending on customer need, MCS provides equipment from the minimal PatchServer specific parts to a complete, fully functional patch-clamp setup

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Description

PatchServer components can easily be added to existing set-up

The PatchServer adds automatic patching ability to any classical patch-clamp setup. Due to its modulatory design it can be added and adjusted to any already existing setup, thereby satisfying the respective need or circumstance of any electrophysiological research lab. To be fully functional, the PatchServer components have to be joined with standard patch-clamp equipment and the target cells have to be in solution. The PatchServer does not work with intact brain slice tissues, but it can patch cells from brain slices after they have been freshly dissociated.

Specific components of the PatchServer

The PatchServer is an add-on tool for automating a manual patch-clamp setup. To be fully functional, the specific components of the PatchServer need to be combined with the basic parts of the setup (Anti-vibration table & Faraday cage, patch amplifier and data acquisition system, upright microscope, bath perfusion system, etc.). The PatchServer is available with one or four recording channels.
Multi Channel Systems can provide the full range of equipment from the minimal PatchServer specific parts (basic package) to a complete, fully functional patch-clamp setup (complete package), individually adjusted to each customer’s need. Please contact us for more details.

Fully automatic Patch-Clamp procedure with standard glass electrodes

The PatchServer can patch a cell and establish the requested recording configuration fully automatically without any user interference. If desired, the user has the option to online interact with the patch process. The user can fine-tune and supervise the patch process using controls within the PatchServer software with a seamless range of control from “not interfering - automatic” to “full manual control”.

Whole-cell and single-channel recording configurations are possible

The PatchServer is able to establish all known patch-clamp recording configurations automatically, from single channel (cell-attached, inside-out and outside-out) to whole-cell. This is possible due to the fact that the PatchServer utilizes standard glass electrodes and that it follows step-by-step the manual patch method. As a direct consequence of this approach, the PatchServer produces a data quality that is similar to the Gold-standard quality generated with manual setups. Furthermore, by emulating the manual approach, the PatchServer allows to exploit the entire range of protocols that are available with a standard manual setup. In addition, when comparing it to the manual approach, it is evident that the PatchServer delivers a much higher data consistency and production rate, due to its applied automatism.

Low operating costs

The PatchServer utilizes standard glass capillaries and follows step-by-step the manual patch method to establish the desired recording configurations. The use of standard glass capillaries has two main advantages:

There is no need to buy expensive consumables
The shape of the RecordingPipettes is adjusted to the tissue of the customer.

Another cost saving factor is the possibility to visually identify the cell that is about to be patched, before the recording configuration is established. Thereby, no time and resources are wasted doing experiments on cells that would not be in the later analysis anyway. Furthermore, the small volumes (~30 mm3) of the individual application bays are an advantage, because little volumess of solution are sufficient to perform a complete wash out.

Standard glass pipettes (no need to buy expensive consumables)
Efficient usage of cells (only identified cells patched, re-absorption)
Small test solution volumes (application bay volume: ~30 mm3)

All suspendable cell types can be patched

Basically all cell types that can be patched with a manual setup and that can be brought into solution qualify to be used with the PatchServer. Special trituration treatments might be necessary to use primary cells that are gathered from acute brain slice tissue. Among the automatic patch-clamp systems, the PatchServer has the unique feature that allows users to visually identify each cell before it is patched, thereby minimizing the possibility to record data from unwanted cells. The PatchServer can semi-automatically patch adherent cells, but is unable to patch cells inside acute brain slices.

The PatchServer has been tested with:

TE-671 a1-nAChR (general cell line)
CHO-K1 a7-AchR (Anaxon)
CHO-hERG (B’SYS)
Cardiomyocytes (Cor.4U®, AxioGenesis, stem cells)

After random catch, cells can be visually identified & selected before they are automatically patched

The PatchServer is worldwide the only automatic patch-clamp system that allows the user to visually identify the targeted cell. After identification, the user has two options:

Discard the cell and catch a new one
Continue with the patch process.

Having this choice has several advantages for the user. Most importantly, it saves time and resources. The user does not have to perform experiments with cells that do not fit the desired criteria. Furthermore, it is possible to patch specific cells from a solution of acutely dissociated cells, like when they are prepared from specific parts of acute brain slices.

Consistent high data quality combined with permanent quality control

The PatchServer utilizes standard glass electrodes and follows step-by-step the manual patch method to establish the desired recording configurations. As a direct consequence of this approach, the PatchServer produces data quality that is similar to the Gold-standard quality of manual setups. In addition, the PatchServer’s data consistency and production rate is much higher compared to the manual approach of a human experimenter. This higher rate is achieved due to the PatchServer’s applied automatism that will always produce the same high quality recording configurations, because each recording configuration is established individually, with permanent feedback control during the sealing and break-in process.

In addition, throughout the experiment the PatchServer continuously monitors important, quality-defining parameters of the recording configuration and automatically safes those in a specific data file. This enables the user to validate the results during the experiment, but also later offline during the data analysis. This allows for pharmaceutical-screening grade data production and in general eliminates the consideration of data points that would otherwise falsify the end result. Amongst others, the most important monitored parameters are: RecordingPipette resistance (R_pip), access resistance (R_a), cell membrane capacitance (C_m) and holding current (I_h). Other parameters are protocol values like holding potentials and values of the test protocols.

Support and Sales team: Always there for you

Multi Channel Systems has a team of highly-qualified scientists, whose only task is to help you with any issue you might have. No matter whether you want to know whether your biological sample is suitable for MEA recordings or if you have a specific software question: Our support team is here to help you.

We have scientists who earned their PhDs in the fields of biology, biophysics, and biochemistry and specialized in:

Neuronal electrophysiology
Cardiac electrophysiology
Xenopus oocyte research
Patch Clamp

Our sales team has years of experience in electrophysiology, too. They can help you in choosing the right system for your specific application, give you advice on the general set-up and useful accessories. They are happy to visit you in your lab anytime to:

Make a demonstration of our systems
Help you with the installation of a new system
Give you training on hard- and software
Discuss any issues you might have with your application

Worldwide, we are supported by our distribution partners. We have long-lasting cooperations with all of our partners and they are regularly trained on our equipment. Be sure that they have the expertise to advise you on all MCS-Systems.

Please do not hesitate to contact us. Normally, we reply to you within 24 hours. You can contact us via:

Phone +49 7121 90925 25
Email support [at] multichannelsystems.com (Support Team); sales [at] multichannelsystems.com (Sales Team)
Contact form

Benefits

The PatchServer can patch a cell and establish the requested recording configuration fully automatic without any user interference. If desired, the user has the option to online interact with the patch process. The user can fine-tune and supervise the patch process using controls within the PatchServer software with a seamless range of control from “not interfering - automatic” to “full manual control”.

Due to the 4 pipette holder array, the PatchServer increases the data production rate compared to a manual patch-clamp setups and its pipette based patch approach guarantees low operating costs. Compared to other automatic patch-clamp systems, the PatchServer is the only system that allows the user to identify the cells before they are used for an experiment.

Whole-Cell and single-channel recording configurations are possible
The PatchServer can automatically established all four recording configurations
Low operating costs
Using standard glass capillaries eliminates the need for expensive consumables
After random catch, the cell can be visually identified before it is patched
The user can decide if a cell should be used or discarded by the PatchServer
Consistent high data quality combined with permanent quality control
Automatic patch approach and software algorithms guarantee constant high data quality level
Ultra-fast application tool
Add-on tool for the PatchServer that automates the accurate measurement of fast-desensitizing ion currents

Media

Videos:

PatchServer Overview

PatchServer Webinar - Automating the Gold Standard (recording from May 14, 2019)

PatchServer Webinar (recording from Apr 28, 2015, 9am UTC)

Products

Documents

Brochure:

PatchServer_Brochure.pdf

Publications

Kumari J, Bendre AD, Bhosale S, Vinnakota R, Burada AP, Ravelli R, Peters PJ, Joshi M, Kumar J (2020) Structural dynamics of the GluK3-kainate receptor neurotransmitter binding domains revealed by cryo-EM. Int J Biol Macromol.

Kumari J, Vinnakota R, Kumar J (2019) Structural and Functional Insights into GluK3-kainate Receptor Desensitization and Recovery. Sci Rep 9:10254.

www.multichannelsystems.com

Innovations in Electrophysiology

Tabs

Pipette Based Automatic Patch-Clamp System

PatchServer Overview

PatchServer Overview

PatchServer Webinar - Automating the Gold Standard (recording from May 14, 2019)

PatchServer Webinar - Automating the Gold Standard (recording from May 14, 2019)

PatchServer Webinar (recording from Apr 28, 2015, 9am UTC)

PatchServer Webinar (recording from Apr 28, 2015, 9am UTC)

PatchServer-Basic-1

PatchServer: HEKA Amplifier and software (one channel)

PatchServer: HEKA Amplifier and software (four channels)

PatchServer: Microscope with camera

PatchServer: Anti-vibration table and Faraday cage

PatchServer: UFA-Tool

PatchServer: Installation and Training

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PatchServer

Tabs

Pipette Based Automatic Patch-Clamp System

PatchServer Overview

PatchServer Webinar - Automating the Gold Standard (recording from May 14, 2019)

PatchServer Webinar (recording from Apr 28, 2015, 9am UTC)