Comparison between continuous (cSEVC) and discontinuous (dSEVC) single electrode voltage-clamp

The same pipette is used simultaneously for voltage recording and current passing

The same micropipette is used and shares time to inject current and record voltage

Better with smaller cells

Better with larger cells as signal is noisier with small cells

Currents <5 nA due to noise

Currents must be modest or large in size >5 nA

Series resistance compensation performed by amplifier

Series resistance compensated by sampling rate and capacitance compensation

Voltage at the tip of the electrode and the ruptured patch benefits from series resistance compensation by the amplifer to achieve command voltage

Voltage at the tip of the electrode (within the cell) is clamped to the command voltage

The voltage at the top of the pipette is controlled by a voltage-clamp circuit. It is the sum of the membrane potential and the current-induced voltage across the pipette

Works better with a larger access resistance (from both pipette and ruptured patch)

Axopatch 200B
and
MultiClamp 700B
(whole-cell patch mode)