A sensitive amplifier and headstage are required to measure the small changes in current, voltage or capacitance at a cellular level. The Cairn Optopatch uses a unique optical feedback headstage to achieve this.

Electrophysiology rigs are usually based around either an inverted or a fixed stage upright microscope. We can recommend and supply suitable scopes from all the major manufacturers,

We are pleased to be official distributors of the Burleigh range of micromanipulators, but can supply other makes on request.

Electrical recordings are extremely sensitive to external electrical interference. All our equipment is designed with this in mind so the sensitive recording equipment can be contained within a Faraday cage without exposure to potentially noisy electronics. We are happy to provide bespoke cages as part of an integrated system, on request.

Due to the delicate nature of patch clamping and related techniques it is vital that all source of vibration are eleiminated. We are delighted to endorse the excellent range of antivibration tables from Newport and TMC.

Our Optopatch amplifier has been specifically deigned to be compatible with commercial electrophysiological software packages such as pCLAMP. Further to this we can provide an excellent Open Source solution using the Strathclyde Electrophysiological Suite, a National Instument data capture card and our own data interface unit.

It is not usually practicable to use the microscope eyepieces whilst manipulating patch electrodes. The most usual solution is to use an inexpensive monochrome frame-rate (CCIR or RS170) CCD camera connected to an analogue monitor or basic frame grabber. Alternatively a firewire or other digital camera can be used, especially if combining photometry with fluorescence imaging.