| Description | The P-2000 micropipette puller represents a significant advance in the technology of fabrication of micropipettes, optical fiber probes, and nanospray tips. The P-2000 integrates a CO2 laser-based heat source with the technology derived from our extensive experience with conventional pullers. This The P-2000 micropipette puller represents a significant advance in the technology of fabrication of micropipettes, optical fiber probes, and nanospray tips. The P-2000 integrates a CO2 laser-based heat source with the technology derived from our extensive experience with conventional pullers. This system offers capabilities unmatched by other pullers.
While the P-2000 is suitable for working with most conventional glasses, its primary advantage is the ability to work with quartz glass (fused silica). Quartz offers superior material properties for a variety of research applications. Quartz is stronger than other glasses and can facilitate penetration through tough tissues which would normally break conventional pipettes(1) . For applications requiring a low noise glass, users will find that quartz is the lowest noise glass available. Quartz contains none of the metals used in conventional glasses. Optically, quartz is virtually free from fluorescence when illuminated.
A CO2 laser was selected as the heat source for the P-2000 for several reasons. First, the nominal emission wavelength of the laser approximates the resonant frequency of the SiO2 lattice in glass. Thus, quartz and other conventional glasses can be melted when the appropriate laser power is supplied. Second, laser heat is clean and leaves no metal residue on the pipette as do conventional heating filaments. Third, laser heat can be turned off instantly, leaving no residual filament heat. Lastly, the user can program the amount and distribution of heat supplied to the glass.
The P-2000 can store up to 100 separate programs, with each program consisting of up to 8 command lines. Programmable parameters include; laser power level, scan width, trip velocity, delay/ laser on time, and hard pull strength.
One important consideration for the use of the P-2000 is the diameter of the glass used. The P-2000/G is designed to produce even heating on glass up to 1.2 mm in outside diameter. Larger diameter glasses can be used with the P-2000/G (up to 1.5 mm quartz and 1.8 mm conventional glasses), but the performance is best with glass that is 1.2 mm diameter or less.
The P-2000/F works well with small diameter glasses such as optical fibers, and with small diameter fused silica capillary commonly used for the manufacture of nanospray tips. Small diameter glass (outer diameter in the range of 0.125 mm to 0.6 mm) requires special puller bars as well as an optical alignment optimized for the smaller diameter material.
As with larger diameter glass, a wide range of tip sizes and taper geometries can be produced with the P-2000/F and small diameter glass. We have drawn optical fiber tips ranging from less than 10µm to more than 5µm. Please consult our technical staff for further information.
Features: P-2000
- Capable of pulling quartz, borosilicate and aluminosilicate glass.
- Fully programmable — including heating filament characteristics.
- The laser has no melting point limit as with conventional metal filaments; and therefore, cannot be burned out.
- Pulls electrodes with tip diameters smaller than 0.03µm.
- Optimized velocity sensing circuit for maximized sensitivity and reproducibility.
- Operating life of the CO2 laser is expected to be in excess of ten years with normal use, after which the laser can be refurbished by the Sutter Instrument Company for a nominal charge.
- Individual programs can be write-protected in order to secure them from inadvertent changes.
- The total time that the heat is on during the pull is displayed for improved program development and troubleshooting.
- A date and time stamp is displayed to show the last time that a program has been changed.
- The P-2000/F is ideal for applications such as nanospray and NSOM.
- Preprogrammed sample programs for intra-cellular and patch pipettes. Special programming available upon request.
... Read More | Developed through years of experience with the Flaming/Brown style micropipette pullers and infused with leading edge technology, Sutter is proud to introduce the P-1000 micropipette puller. The most obvious new feature is the color touchscreen display that provides an intuitive and full-featured Developed through years of experience with the Flaming/Brown style micropipette pullers and infused with leading edge technology, Sutter is proud to introduce the P-1000 micropipette puller. The most obvious new feature is the color touchscreen display that provides an intuitive and full-featured interface.
The extensive library of programs found in the popular Sutter Cookbook has been incorporated into the P-1000 puller and is available to the user via the touchscreen display. You need only specify the glass, filament, and type of pipette you require and a suitable program will be identified and available for installation. This takes the guesswork out of pipette pulling and simplifies programming.
Copy and paste functions assure that programs can be easily written and the line repeat mode simplifies multi-line programming. A safe heat mode is an additional feature that helps the user avoid using heat settings that might damage or burn out the filament. When the safe heat mode is turned on, the puller will “check” the installed heat and alert the user when a given heat value is too low or too high in relation to the ramp value. User notes can be added to each program for annotating important information.
Other new features for the P-1000 include diagnostic testing of all puller components, built-in error detection of air pressure loss or filament burnout, easy access to ramp test, measurement of jaw temperature, and access to previous pull results with the heat on times for each cycle of the program. In addition, help topics are pre-loaded to assist with on-site troubleshooting and the built-in glossary includes text, pictures, and diagrams explaining the terms used in micropipette fabrication. A rotary dial is offered as an alternative to the keypad for numerical entry.
Features: P-1000
- Color touch-screen interface
- Safe heat mode to protect and extend filament life
- Pipette Cookbook program directory
- Line repeat mode simplifies multi-line programming
- Help topics and error detection
- Glossary with micropipette and puller terminology
- Copy & Paste function for writing new programs
- Jaw temperature sensor helps define ideal pulling conditions
- Record of last two pull results
- Ramp test more easily accessed and can now be stored and referenced within each program. Helps to establish program heat settings and protect filament.
- Two symmetrical pipettes with each pull
- Self-contained air supply with filtration system and humidity control chamber
- Memory storage for up to 100 programs
- Two cooling modes: time and delay
... Read More | The model P-30 vertical micropipette puller is designed for the fabrication of basic micropipettes and patch-type pipettes. It will pull micropipettes with tip diameters as small as 0.3um and moderate taper lengths (10 to 15mm). By using an included patching attachment, the P-30 will pull the The model P-30 vertical micropipette puller is designed for the fabrication of basic micropipettes and patch-type pipettes. It will pull micropipettes with tip diameters as small as 0.3um and moderate taper lengths (10 to 15mm). By using an included patching attachment, the P-30 will pull the standard double pull patch-type pipette. Used with thin wall glass capillaries, it will generate pipettes or needles suitable for microinjection studies. The P-30 is ideal for student laboratories and other situations which call for an economical, reliable pipette pulling device.
The P-30 is available with either a platinum/iridium or a Nichrome filament. The Nichrome filament is suitable for many applications and is not prone to damage.The Platinum filament is more efficient at heating and cooling, and, although is more prone to damage than the Nichrome filament, the platinum filament is recommended for thick wall and aluminosilicate glass and applications requiring shorter taper lengths. Features: P-30 - Pulls electrodes with tip diameters down to 0.3µm, consistently and reliably.
- A micrometer allows precise reproducibility of trip point settings in producing fine microelectrodes.
- Full three digit digital controls for accurate setting of heat and pull values.
- Constant current power supplies for filament and pull solenoid.
- Enclosed front to reduce variability caused by drafts.
- Dual (manually) switched heat settings for patch pulling or two different types of micropipettes.
- All working parts are made from corrosion resistant material.
- Two heating assemblies available; platinum/iridium (recommended) or Nichrome coil.
- Built in RFI filter and dual voltage/dual frequency operation.
- Rubber padded jaws to minimize breakage of capillary tubing.
- Designed to take up a minimum of bench space.
- Slope of the front panel aids in preventing glass from entering cabinet/solenoid mechanism.
... Read More | The P-97 Flaming/Brown type micropipette puller is ideal for fabricating micropipettes, patch pipettes and microinjection needles. While retaining many of the features of earlier models, the P-97 offers improvements in mechanical, electronic and software design. The result is better control of the The P-97 Flaming/Brown type micropipette puller is ideal for fabricating micropipettes, patch pipettes and microinjection needles. While retaining many of the features of earlier models, the P-97 offers improvements in mechanical, electronic and software design. The result is better control of the pulling process and a higher degree of reproducibility. The P-97 combines a proven mechanical system with a sophisticated, programmable microprocessor controller. This programmable control of the pulling parameters allows the investigator to design application specific pipettes from a wide range of glass compositions and sizes.
A number of other features have been incorporated in the design of the P-97. Most apparent is the environmental chamber which surrounds the heating filament. This environmental chamber is designed to minimize the effect of changing humidity on the reproducibility of pulled pipettes. A 25% increase in power over the P-87 allows for the use of larger heating filaments, larger diameter glass and multi-barreled glass. The metal jaws that clamp the heating filament have also been redesigned to minimize heat retention. A gas delivery mode switch provides for extended cooling for large diameter and multi-barreled glass. A spring-loaded clamping mechanism has been added for easier loading of glass. A vacuum fluorescent display has been added that allows easy viewing.
Software improvements on the P-97 include a display of the total heat-on time to assist in program development and troubleshooting. Up to 100 programs can now be written and stored in memory, which makes the P-97 suitable for multiple users. These programs can now be write-protected, adding security to prevent programs from being changed or altered inadvertently. The display shows the last date and time the program was written or edited. In addition, the air pressure is included as a programmable parameter.
The P-97 contains a ramp test to overcome the difficulties of program adjustment when a new filament is installed or to help characterize a new glass and filament combination. This test allows for the rapid adjustment of heat values in established programs and provides estimates for establishing heat settings when using new sizes or compositions of glass capillaries. As with all Sutter instruments, the electronics have been carefully designed to maximize noise rejection.
Features: P-97
- Environmental chamber.
- Programmable air pressure.
- Memory storage for up to 100 programs.
- Write protection and date stamp for each program.
- Two symmetrical pipettes with each pull.
- Preprogrammed sample programs for intracellular and patch pipettes. Special programming on request.
- Ramp test—self test for establishing program heat settings when a new filament or glass is introduced.
- Vacuum fluorescent display.
- Internal memory test.
- Constant current power supply for filament and pull solenoid.
- Looping pull cycle for fabrication of patch type micropipettes.
- Self-contained air supply with filtration system and humidity control.
- Consistent and reliable electrodes with tip diameters less than 0.1µm.
- Control over the time and pressure at which the air is delivered.
- Optimized velocity sensing circuit for maximized sensitivity and reproducibility.
- Quality control, SEM photograph of a tip pulled with each puller; criterion is tip measurement less than 0.1µm and typically is ~0.06µm.
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