We are planning to go for a SliecScope Pro System (http://www.scientifica.uk.com/products/slicescope-pro-systems) to establish electrophysiological data on acute brain slices (diverse areas). Can anybody provide some long-term experiences? Anything that we definitely should go for? How are the micro-manipulators (Patch-Star)? How stable are they? What's with noise?
I'm really thankful for any kind of information.
If you don't want to publish things public, private messages are highly welcome also.
Patch-star manipulators are very stable and reliable. I used at least 3 or 4 of them starting from 2006 in three different labs; never observed a drift.
We are using since 2008 Patch-Star manipulators and the stage for upright microscopes from Scientifica for long term patch-clamp recordings of STDP in our lab and never observed any stability or noise problems in our measurements. A once defective remote control for the manipulators was replaced/repaired without any problems. So I can also recommend using this equipment for sophisticated recordings.
Best regards, Volkmar Lessmann
I use 2 Patch-star manipulators and I have never had any problem with them. There are both very reliable, stable and do not generate much noise.
I do recommend the patch-star micromanipulators although they are expensive. They don't introduce any electrical noise as they run on a DC current - I've performed many single channel recordings using them. Their only problem I've come across is that they have to attach to a surface plate, separate from the microscope, whilst Narishiges can connect direct to the microscope. This means, if you have a poor table, vibrations can be worse. An added bonus is that you can fix locations the micromanipulator moves to. It makes it a lot faster to swap glass tips!
We have used a pair for simultaneous stimulation and recording from vertebrate hair cells. The transducer is sensitive to motion in the nm range, and the PatchStars are so far the best we've ever used (compared to Huxley's and Sutter MP-285). We'll never look back.
Hi Richard,
We do dendritic recordings - distal ones, i.e. the pipette tip is larger than the dendrite diameter! We need ultra-stable manipulators. I always used Luigs & Neumann.
Many years ago, I tested PatchStars (I was the first customer outside UK). They are as stable as Luigs, but cheaper. In addition, you have many features you can use to program pipette approach, checking distance etc. I never had a problem with patchstars, including for multiple patching.
The good thing with Scientifica is their reactivity and dedication to customers. Hence, if you have a problem, they'll solve it. If you have an idea for improvement, they'll work it out with you.
Regarding the slicescope, we designed it together with Scientifica, as I wanted to remove all the unnecessary bulky stuff. I like a lot the end product. It is versatile and you can adapt many features to it. It is really stable and noise free (like the manipulators).
Note: I am not getting anything from them for saying that!
I contacted them to tell them that this is what, we, electrophysiologists need. And they did it. So, in the end, I got the product I needed and wanted.
I have nothing but good things to say about Scientifica, and find them dedicated to their customers and helpful. I am using a PatchStar manipulator, and it is brilliant, no drift, very stable, and absolutely no electrical noise coming from it. Wonderful to use; I prefer using the ACC Control rather than the LinLab software, but I am told the software works well. Setting the manipulator up on a Universal Post and platform mount was easy. The nice thing is that once you have the pipette in the holder it is easy to get the pipette tip quickly over the cell you wish to patch with the fast and slow speeds of the PatchStar.
I think the patchstar manipulators are far better than the Sutter manipulators. Why do the Sutter ones make a grinding noise when in motion, that is crazy?! The noise is much lower with the Patchstars, mainly because the hookup is outside of the cage and attached by magnet to the metal siding, whereas the Sutter ones connect right behind the microscope often close by the headstage cable! I highly recommend Scientifica manipulators and the Slicescope. The Slicescope is ideal if you want many manipulators mounted up, but if you only use one or two it won't make a difference. I even have a spinning disc confocal on top of the narrow slicescope and it can handle the weight no problem. Very stable and even works on a motorized microscope stage.
I second all the positive reviews both for the manipulator and Scientifica's customer service. The only situation where others (eg. L&N or Kliendiek) could fare better if you want to have 5+ manipulators around your stage.