Micropipette Pullers

Note: Distributed only in Europe - US, CA and Asian customers, please contact Sutter instruments or Narishige directly.

• Vertical Pipette Puller - P-30*
• Flaming/Brown type - Micropipette/Patch pipette puller - P-97*
• Laser Based Pipette Puller - P-2000*
• Filaments*

* instruments manufactured by Sutter Instruments. In addition to instrument sales, we also provide technical support and instrument repair service.

• We also distribute & support products from Narishige

Vertical Pipette Puller - P-30

NOW CE CERTIFIED !!

The Model P-30 pipette puller from Sutter Instrument Company is designed for the fabrication of 'basic' micropipettes and patch type pipettes. It will pull micropipettes with tip diameters as small as 0.3 microns and moderate taper lengths (10 to 15 millimeters). 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.

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Features

• Pulls electrodes with tip diameters down to 0.3um consistently and reliably.
• A micrometer allows precision reproducibility of trip point settings in producing fine tipped microelectrodes.
• Full 3-digit digital controls for accurate setting of heat and pull values.
• Constant current power supplies for filament and pull solenoid.
• Dual (manually) switched heat settings for patch pulling or two different types of micropipettes.
• Enclosed front to reduce variability caused by drafts.
• All working parts are made from corrosion resistant material.
• Two heating assemblies available: platinum/iridium (recommended) or nichrome coil. Please specify when ordering.
• Platinum filaments are more efficient at heating and cooling than nichrome filaments, but are also prone to damage. While nichrome is suitable for many applications, platinum is recommended for large diameter, thick wall, aluminosilicate glass, and applications requiring shorter taper lengths.
• 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 broken glass from entering the cabinet/solenoid mechanism.

Specifications and Ordering Information

When ordering please specify nichrome or platinum filament holder.

• Size: 18" x 10" x 9"
• Weight: Approx. 35 lbs.
• Electrical: Operates 115/230 volts, 50/60 Hertz power line.

Quality Control

Sutter Instrument Company, as a leader in the production of micropipette pullers, takes great pride in the quality of its products. We maintain a complete scanning EM facility in house to check the performance of each micropipette puller before it is shipped. In the case of the Model P-30, each puller is tested by pulling a group of pipettes which are then examined with the SEM. All pipette tips must measure equal or less than 0.3um before the puller is approved for shipping. This level of quality control is offered by no other manufacturer of micropipette pullers.

Ordering information

Flaming/Brown type - Micropipette/Patch pipette puller - P-97

The Model P-97 micropipette puller from Sutter Instrument Company is the latest generation of the Brown/ Flaming type puller design, suitable for fabrication of micropipettes, patch pipettes and microinjection needles. While still retaining many of the features found on the Model P-87, the P-97 offers added versatility, improved electronics, and a higher degree of reproducibility.
The P-97 combines a proven mechanical system with a sophisticated, programmable microprocessor controller. Programmable control of the pulling parameters allows investigators to design application- specific pipettes from a multitude of glass compositions and sizes.

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Mechanical Improvements

• A humidity controlled chamber enclosing the heating element to minimize the effects of ambient humidity on the pulling process. (Patent Pending)
• New smaller filament clamping jaws to minimize heat retention.

Software Improvements

• Gas delivery mode switch allows extended cooling for large diameter, multibarrel glass useful for needle fabrication.
• The total time the heat is on in a program, is displayed for improved program development and troubleshooting.
• Programmable air pressure.
• Extended program capacity from 10 to 100 programs.
• Adjustable gas cooling of filament to minimize filament clamp heat retention.
• Write protection lock to protect programs from being cleared.

Electronic Improvements

• Higher power-a 25% increase in power allowing for the use of larger heating filaments, larger diameter glass and multibarreled glass.
• A new vacuum fluorescent display allowing easy viewing from any direction.
• New electronic components for improved noise rejection and higher accuracy

Standard Features

• Pulls electrodes consistently and reliably with tip diameters ranging from greater than 1 um to less than 0.1 um.
• Pulls electrodes with tapers ranging from 6 mm to 24 mm with little or no change in tip diameter.
• Pulls two symmetrical electrodes with each pull.
• Preprogrammed with sample programs for intracellular, patch and microinjection pipettes.
• Measures velocity of the system as the glass softens and begins to pull apart. Velocity allows for selection of a precise glass temperature as the trip point for the hard pull. (patent #4, 600, 424)
• Ramp Test, self test for establishing program heat.
• Constant current power supplies for filament, and pull solenoid.
• Looping pull cycle for fabrication of patch clamp pipettes.
• Operates on the principle of rapid cooling of the electrode heater to give fine tipped pipettes with extremely short tapers.
• Pulls pipettes with gradual taper at tip to facilitate holding cells.

Specifications

• DIMENSIONS: 21" x 14" x 12"
• WEIGHT: Approx. 60 lbs. / 27 Kg.
• ELECTRICAL: Operates on 115/230 Volts, 50/60 Hertz power line.

Quality Control

Sutter Instrument Company, as a leader in the production of high quality micropipette pullers, takes great pride in the quality of its products. We maintain a complete scanning EM facility in-house to check the performance of each micropipette puller before it is shipped.
In the case of the P-97, each puller is tested by pulling a group of pipettes which are then examined with the SEM. All the pipette tips must measure less than 0.1 um (typical results are around 0.06 um) before the puller is approved for shipment. Included with each P-97 is a photograph of one of the electrodes pulled on that puller. This level of quality control is offered by no other manufacturer of micropipette pullers.

Ordering information

Laser Based Pipette Puller - P-2000

The laser based, quartz micropipette puller Model P-2000 is the result of an extensive research and development effort by Sutter Instrument Company. Utilizing the proven mechanical system of the Flaming/Brown type pullers in combination with a powerful C02 laser and a sophisticated, programmable microprocessor controller, the P-2000 represents a significant advance in the technology of micropipette fabrication. Quartz and synthetically produced fused silica are pure silicon dioxide materials possessing superior qualities for electrophysiological research. ( For purposes of this discussion, the terms quartz and fused silica will be used interchangeably.) Prior use of quartz has been limited because its melting point exceeds that of conventional metal filaments. Using quartz, Sutter Instrument Company has pulled electrodes with tip diameters measuring less than 0.01 um. Quartz pipettes can penetrate tough tissue that would normally break conventional pipettes.(1) Thin-wall quartz can form tips that can penetrate cells as can thick-wall borosilicate, yet the thin-wall quartz will have a larger pore size and therefore lower resistance. Quartz exhibits superior electrical characteristics demonstrated by a low dielectric constant, a low loss factor and a volume resistivity that is orders of magnitude greater than borosilicate.

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Because of the above properties, quartz has superior noise performance when compared to pipettes made from any other glass.(2) With the exception of quartz, all common glasses incorporate metal ions to decrease their melting point. By eliminating these metal ions, recording artifacts and alteration of channel kinetics may be minimized.(3) Optically, quartz is virtually free from fluorescence when illuminated. Several factors led to the selection of a laser as the heat source for pipette fabrication. Laser heat is clean; it does not leave an evaporative metal residue on the pipette as do conventional metal filaments. The end user can program the amount of heat (power) to be supplied to the glass and also define the pattern of heat distribution along the glass. The laser leaves no residual filament heat; when the laser is turned off heat delivery to the glass stops instantly, eliminating the need for an air jet cooling system. The P-2000 can store up to 100 separate programs, with each program consisting of up to 8 command lines. Programmable parameters include HEAT, PULL STRENGTH, VELOCITY(criterium for the trip point), FILAMENT TYPE, and DELAY( time between the trip point and the hard pull). The P-2000 contains a "RAMP TEST" which initiates a self test to insure proper function and facilitates filament adjustment by reporting recommended heat value for the glass-filament combination. The P-2000 has been developed for use with 1.00mm outside diameter tubing. Other sizes can be used, but the range of pipettes that can be made is limited.

Features

• Though the P-2000 is required for quartz pulling, it can handle both borosilicate and aluminosilicate glasses as well.
• Ease of programmability combined with the freedom of programmable filaments allows one instrument to be used for many different research projects.
• The laser has no melting point limit as with conventional metal filaments and therefore cannot be burned out.
• Pulls electrodes with tip diameters that are less than 0.03 um.
• Measures velocity of the system as the glass softens and begins to pull apart under a constant load. The increasing velocity of the initial pull is determined by the viscosity of the glass, which in turn is a function of the glass temperature. The adjustable velocity allows for selection of precise glass temperature as the trip point for the hard pull. (US patent No. 4,600,424)
• The laser is completely contained ensuring safety to the operator.
• Operating life of the CO, laser is expected to be in excess of 10 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 was 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.
• Modifications can be made to pull small diameter fibers as used in fiber optics at no additional cost. (Please specify when ordering)

Quality control

Sutter Instrument Company, as a leader in the production of high quality micropipette pullers, takes great pride in the quality of its products. We maintain a complete scanning electron microscope facility in house to check the performance of each micropipette puller before it is shipped. In the case of the P2000, each puller is tested by pulling a group of pipettes which are then examined under a scanning electron microscope. All of the pipette tips must measure less than 0.05 um (typical results are around 0.03um) before the puller is approved for shipment. Included with each P-2000 is a photograph of one of the electrodes pulled on that puller. This level of quality control is offered by no other manufacturer of micropipette pullers.

Specifications

• DIMENSIONS: 37in. x 19in x 19in (94cm x 48cm x 48cm)
  
• WEIGHT: 95 pounds 43 kg
  
• ELECTRICAL: 115/230 volts with 50/60 hertz power line.
  

Ordering information

Filaments

Appropriate filament selection depends on your research application, but a general guideline for filaments is as follows: 

Box Filaments are recommended for large diameter, double barreled, or aluminosilicate glass. Box filaments are particularly suitable for slice preparations where long, parallel walls would aid penetration. If using a box filament, the size of the square box should be approximately 1.0mm to 1.5mm larger than the outside diameter of the glass that you will be using. 

Trough Filaments are an excellent general purpose filament and are recommended for patch pipettes produced from either standard or thin wall glass. Sutter pre-programs the pullers that we ship with a trough filament unless a box filament is requested. For either type of filament, increasing the filament width tends to increase the length of the pipette taper. If there are specific questions as to the sizes needed please call and our technical support staff will guide you in your choice.

Box Filaments

P-97, P-87, P80PC, P80C, PC-84, P-77B

• FB215B 2.0mm square box filament, 1.5mm wide
• FB220B 2.0mm square box filament, 2.0mm wide
• FB230B 2.0mm square box filament, 3.0mm wide
• FB255B 2.5mm square box filament, 2.5mm wide
• FB245B 2.5mm square box filament, 4.5mm wide
• FB315B 3.0mm square box filament, 1.5mm wide
• FB320B 3.0mm square box filament, 2.0mm wide
• FB330B 3.0mm square box filament, 3.0mm wide

Trough Filaments

P-97, P-87, P80PC, P80C, PC-84, P-77B

• FT315B 1.5mm wide trough filament
• FT320B 2.0mm wide trough filament
• FT330B 3.0mm wide trough filament
• FT345B 4.5mm wide trough filament

P-30 Filaments

• P30T15 1.5mm wide trough filament
• P30T20 2.0mm wide trough filament
• P30T30 3.0mm wide trough filament
• P30N Nichrome filament

P-77A Loop Filaments

(Serial number 160 and above)

• FL315A 3.0mm loop filament, 1.5mm wide
• FL320A 3.0mm loop filament, 2.0mm wide
• FL325A 3.0mm loop filament, 2.5mm wide

( Serial number below 160)

• FL315X 3.0mm loop filament, 1.5mm wide
• FL320X 3.0mm loop filament, 2.0mm wide
• FL325X 3.0mm loop filament, 2.5mm wide

Accessories

• FILAMENT Custom platinum/iridium filament
• FS1875 Platinum/iridim sheet, 18mm x 75mm x 0.05mm (0.002in)
• FFOOXA Loop forming tool
• NTOXAB Nitrogen tank ( full )
• FPS Fire polishing spacer for P97, P87, and P2000 pullers
• IMOXAB Instruction manual

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