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Videos
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February 22, 2021
Pulling micropipettes or microelectrodes is a science and an art, requiring some finesse. Here we discuss the five major factors which can affect the shape of a pulled glass micropipette or microelectrode.
The PUL-1000 is a microprocessor controlled, four-stage, horizontal puller for making glass micropipettes or microelectrodes. Here we will look at factors that affect the pulling of glass.
As the temperature of glass increases, the glass transitions gradually from a hard and relatively brittle solid state into a soft and viscous state. To form glass into certain shapes using a puller, heat is applied through a filament. Many factors affect the heat transferred from a filament to a glass capillary.
- The filament holders heat up when current passes through the filament, which can...more
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February 22, 2021
DCAP guillotines are designed for small animal researchers, and they come in three sizes. The DCAP is considered one of the most humane methods of dispatching laboratory animals. With a single downward motion of the handle, you can euthanize a laboratory rodent quickly and without trauma.
These guillotines are designed for small animal researchers, and they come in three sizes. The guillotine is considered one of the most humane methods of dispatching laboratory animals. With a single downward motion of the handle, you can euthanize a rodent quickly and without trauma.
The blades are comprised of hardened steel, so they hold an edge and remain sharp, offering years of service. Sharp blades make the process swift for both the researcher and the subject. With proper care, the stainless steel blades...more
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February 12, 2021
Manual micromanipulators are common equipment in a laboratory, and with proper care and handling they should last many years. Here's a few tips on how to take care of your new manipulator.
Your micro manipulator is a precision instrument, and it has been calibrated at the factory and is ready to use. As with any delicate mechanical device, your care and attention ensure long-term accurate performance. The following are some helpful hints that make this possible.
- When handling a micromanipulator like the M3301 or the KITE, always set it down carefully. Dropping it even a short distance can damage the general alignment and the adjustment.
- When it's not in use, close all the slides. When the guides are exposed, dust can get in those tracks. When...more
- When handling a micromanipulator like the M3301 or the KITE, always set it down carefully. Dropping it even a short distance can damage the general alignment and the adjustment.
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February 12, 2021
The M3301 is a popular micromanipulator used for laboratory research. Here we will show you how to mount a microelectrode holder on the M3301 Micromanipulator. The procedure is very similar for most manual micromanipulators.
In this video, we use the popular M3301 Micromanipulator to demonstrate how to mount a standard electrode holder. This M3301 is mounted on an M-3 Tilt Base which allows you to position it the way you want. The Tilt Base is mounted on a 5-lb. Weighted Base (WPI #...more
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February 12, 2021
Over time, you may experience mechanical drift in one or more of the axes of your manual micromanipulator. Here we show you how to adjust for that. The process is similar for other styles of manual micromanipulators. We will look at the process for adjusting all three axes of a KITE micromanipulator.
A micromanipulator axis may begin to move gradually under its own weight even if it's not being touched. This phenomenon is referred to as mechanical drift, and it occurs from normal use of the manipulator axes over time. Each coarse axis control of the micromanipulator has its own separate adjustment to counteract drift. Let's look at the popular M3301 Micromanipulator. The procedure...more
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February 11, 2021
M3301 is a popular manual micromanipulator at WPI. These manipulators are typically mounted on a stand or table to ensure stability. In this video we show you how to mount the manipulator on an Tilt Base (WPI# M-3) with a WPI# 5464 5 lb. weighted base.
When we mount a micromanipulator on an M-3 tilt base, the tilt base can be adjusted to position the micromanipulator right where you want it. We will use our popular M3301 micromanipulator to demonstrate.
- The first thing we need to do is remove the ring clamp from the bottom of the micromanipulator. There are two screws that we...more
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February 10, 2021
Over time, you may experience mechanical drift in one or more of the axes of your manual micromanipulator. Here we show you how to adjust for that. The process is similar for other styles of manual micromanipulators. We will look at the process for adjusting all three axes of a KITE micromanipulator.
Let's talk about mechanical drift on a micromanipulator and how to correct it. In this demonstration, we will use the popular KITE. A manipulator axis may begin to move gradually under its own weight, even if it's not being touched. This is called mechanical drift, and it happens from normal use of the manipulator over time. Each course axis control on the micromanipulator has its own adjustments. This procedure is very similar to the one we used for adjusting an M3301 micromanipulator. It also...more
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February 09, 2021
Magnetic stands act as an invaluable extra hand around the laboratory to hold an electrode, digital dials or tools. The base houses a strong magnet which can be activated by turning the switch. Position the magnetic stand on a weighted steel base plate or metal desk and rotate the dial counter-clockwise to engage the magnet. We offer multiple styles of magnetic stands, but these videos show a couple options.
Flexible Magnetic Stand
The M11 Flexible Magnetic Stand is ideal for probe holders and other lightweight objects. The flexible arm bends like a snake and locks into position with a flick of the control lever. Here we show you how easy it is to set it up.
Magnetic Stand with Adjustment Arm
The M9 Magnetic Stand has an adjustment arm. We'll show you how to easily position it...more
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September 08, 2020
[by Gabe Gonzalez]
The PV850 Injector is designed to simplify intracellular injection and a variety of other microinjection tasks. The PV850 uses regulated air pressure for injecting cells with fluid. Injected volumes range from picoliters to nanoliters. The port supplies positive pressure for high-pressure ejection maximum of 87 PSI. The PV850 Microinjector offers separate regulated compensation (back filling prevention) and ejection pressures with a precision timing circuit that switches from injection pressure to compensation pressure automatically. Timing, injection pressure and compensation pressure are adjusted independently using the intuitive touch-screen user interface. Time intervals can range from 2 seconds down to 10 ms or less, depending on the injection pressure setting...more
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September 08, 2020
[by Gabe Gonzalez]
The PV850 Injector is designed to simplify intracellular injection and a variety of other microinjection tasks. The PV850 uses regulated air pressure for injecting cells with fluid. Injected volumes range from picoliters to nanoliters. The port supplies positive pressure for high-pressure ejection maximum of 8 7PSI. The PV850 Microinjector offers separate regulated compensation (back filling prevention) and ejection pressures with a precision timing circuit that switches from injection pressure to compensation pressure automatically. Timing, injection pressure and compensation pressure are adjusted independently using the intuitive touch-screen user interface. Time intervals can range from 2 seconds down to 10 ms or less, depending on the injection pressure setting...more
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September 03, 2020
Designed to simplify intracellular injection and a variety of other microinjection tasks, WPI’s PicoPumps (PV830 and PV820) use precisely regulated pressures for securing cells and injecting them with fluid. Injected volumes range from picoliters to nanoliters. Separate ports supply positive and negative pressure—positive pressure for high-pressure ejection, and suction for supporting the cell or for filling the pipette from the tip. In this quick series, you can see how to setup a PicoPump.
1. What's Included with a PV Pump
In this first video (#1) you can see all the components of the system as they unpack the system.
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June 16, 2020
[by Alec Dickson]
WPI's FluoroDish™ tissue culture dishes provide exceptional imaging quality for many applications requiring the use of inverted microscopes such as high-resolution image analysis, microinjection and electrophysical recording of fluorescent-tagged cells. We have a 50 mm diameter dish and two types of 35 mm diameter dishes.
Better Optical Properties than PolycarbonateEach WPI dish has a flat (0.17mm±0.01mm thick), optical quality glass bottom, allowing...more
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June 15, 2020
[by Tiana Riggi]
UV/VIS/NIR absorbance spectroscopy is governed by Beer's Law, where the absorbance signal is proportional to chemical concentration, light path length and the compound’s specific molar absorption coefficient. Typical optical pathlengths of cuvettes and flow cells are between 0.1 cm and 10 cm. Longer pathlengths are difficult to achieve due to mechanical constraints. WPI solved this problem with the LWCC Liquid Waveguide Capillary Cells. LWCCs are fiber optic flow cells that combine an increased optical pathlength range from 10–500 cm with small sample volumes ranging from 2.4 µL to about 3 mL. Compared with a standard 1 cm cell you can expect to achieve a 10-500 fold increase in sensitivity.
...more
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June 09, 2020
[by Nikki Scafa]
When using a TBR Free Radical Analyzer, accurate measurements of an analyte requires an accurate calibration. The calibration of nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen sulfide sensors is similar. WPI oxygen and glucose sensors require different methods which will not be discussed here.
Before we begin:
- Make sure you have the following items.
- Your sensor must be polarized for the appropriate length of time.
- Your solutions are prepared as described in the manual. (NOTE: Here we will show an item checklist slide (below) before continuing the video.)
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May 21, 2020
[by Tiana Ruchti]
When you have exact specifications for your fiber optic assemblies, WPI delivers with proprietary qualified optical fibers designed by in-house optical engineers. You can count on superior performance from WPI's spectroscopy products and the published research scientists who design them. When you depend on reliable data for your discoveries, consider WPI's German Optics Department for qualified optical fiber and assemblies.
Here we discuss the process for submitting a request for an optical fiber to match your needs using the WPI optical fiber selection guide. There are five steps.
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