Patch-clamp amplifiers from single channels to large macroscopic recordings

The Axon Instruments® series of amplifiers provide best-in-class solutions for the entire range of patch-clamp experiments. The portfolio of amplifiers includes Axopatch™ 200B for ultra low-noise single-channel recordings, MultiClamp™ 700B for whole-cell voltage-clamp and high-speed current-clamp recordings, and Axoclamp™ 900A for two-electrode voltage-clamp and current-clamp recordings.

  • Minimize signal to noise ratio

    Minimize signal to noise ratio

    The Axopatch 200B Capacitor Feedback Patch Clamp Amplifier offers one of the lowest-noise single-channel recordings available via innovative capacitor-feedback technology.

  • Perform multi-channel experiments

    Perform multi-channel experiments

    The MultiClamp 700B Microelectrode Amplifier enables whole-cell voltage-clamp and current-clamp recordings. It is the most versatile amplifier in the portfolio.

  • Measure large currents

    Measure large currents

    Large output compliance range of our Axoclamp 900A Microelectrode Amplifier facilitates the measurement of large and rapid voltage-clamp and current-clamp recordings.

Using Axoclamp 900A for Two-Electrode Voltage-Clamp of Xenopus Oocytes Expressing Ion Channels

Using the Axoclamp 900A for Two-Electrode Voltage-Clamp of Xenopus Oocytes Expressing Ion Channels

Features

  • Actively cooled headstage

    The Axopatch 200B amplifier features proprietary technology that provides active headstage cooling that reduces electrical noise close to the theoretical limits of physics.

  • Software control of settings

    The MultiClamp 700B and Axoclamp 900A amplifiers offer software control. Software control streamlines setup, and enables automation of parameters, telegraphing, and advanced protocols.

  • Support up to four headstages

    The MultiClamp 700B supports up to two primary CV-7B headstages and two optional auxiliary headstages (HS-2 or VG-2 type) enabling multi-channel recording for cellular network studies.

  • Large output compliance range

    The Axoclamp 900A amplifier supports the measurement of larger currents and ensures faster clamp speed (±180 V in TEVC and HVIC modes).

  • Multiple modes of operation

    The Axoclamp 900A amplifier offers 5 modes of operation: current clamp, discontinuous current clamp, two-electrode voltage clamp, discontinuous single-electrode voltage clamp, high-voltage current clamp.

  • Works with any data acquisition system

    The family of amplifiers integrates with most data acquisition programs. The pCLAMP™ 11 Software and DigiData® 1550B system for data acquisition and analysis provide optimal performance.

View all Resources

Applications of Axon Instruments Patch-Clamp Amplifiers

  • Patch-Clamp Single Channel Recording Technique

    Single Channel Recording

    The patch-clamp technique involves a glass micropipette forming a tight gigaohm seal with the cell membrane. The micropipette contains a wire bathed in an electrolytic solution to conduct ions. To measure single ion channels, a “patch” of membrane is pulled away from the cell after forming a gigaohm seal. If a single ion channel is within the patch, currents can be measured. The Axopatch 200B, with extremely low-noise profile, is ideal for this application, maximizing signal for the smallest conductance ion channels.

  • Ion Channels

    Ion Channels

    An ion channel is a group of proteins that form a pore across the lipid bilayer of a cell. Each channel is permeable to a specific ion (examples: potassium, sodium, calcium, chloride). Patch-clamp is used to evaluate current or voltage in the membrane associated with ion channel activity via direct measurement in real time using ultra-sensitive amplifiers, high-quality data acquisition systems, and powerful software to evaluate the results.

  • Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology Techniques

    Patch Clamp

    The patch-clamp technique involves a glass micropipette forming a tight gigaohm (GΩ) seal with the cell membrane. The micropipette contains a wire bathed in an electrolytic solution to conduct ions. The whole-cell technique involves rupturing a patch of membrane with mild suction to provide low-resistance electrical access, allowing control of transmembrane voltage. Alternatively, investigators can pull a patch of membrane away from the cell and evaluate currents through single channels via the inside-out or outside-out patch-clamp technique.

  • Whole Cell Recording Patch-Clamp Technique

    Whole Cell Recording

    The whole cell patch-clamp technique involves a glass micropipette forming a tight gigaohm (GΩ) seal with the cell membrane. This micropipette contains a wire bathed in an electrolytic solution to conduct ions. A patch of membrane is subsequently ruptured by mild suction so that the glass micropipette provides a low-resistance access to the whole cell, thereby allowing the investigator to control the transmembrane voltage and allowing the investigator to evaluate the sum of all currents through membrane bound ion channels.

  • Series Resistance Compensation using Whole-Cell Recording Method

    Series Resistance Compensation

    Series resistance is the sum of all resistances between the amplifier and the inside of the cell using the whole-cell recording method. Due to Ohms Law, the larger this resistance, the greater the difference between the command level and the measured values. This creates an error in actual voltage or current measurement potentially leading to inaccurate observations. To overcome this, the Molecular Devices amplifiers have built-in circuitry to improve the bandwidth of the recording by compensating the error introduced by the voltage or current drop across the series resistance.

  • Voltage Clamp Amplifier

    Voltage Clamp Amplifier

    In an experiment using the voltage-clamp method, the investigator controls the membrane voltage in a cell and measures the transmembrane current required to maintain that voltage. This voltage control is called a command voltage. To maintain this command voltage level, an amplifier must inject current. The current injected will be equal and opposite the current escaping through open ion channels, allowing the amplifier to measure the amount of current passing through open membrane bound ion channels.

  • Current Clamp Amplifier

    Current Clamp Amplifier

    Current-clamp is a method used to measure the resulting membrane potential (voltage) from an injection of current. To measure the membrane potential, the MultiClamp 700B and Axoclamp 900A both monitor voltage drop initiated by current injection along an in-series resistor. Current-clamp is commonly used to inject simulated, but realistic current waveforms into a cell, and monitor membrane effect. This technique is ideal for the evaluation of important cellular events such as action potentials.

Specifications & Options of Axon Instruments Patch-Clamp Amplifiers

* Holding level, current passing, filter option, multiple signal outputs, pipette offset, fast and whole cell capacitance compensation, series compensation, pipette neutralization, bridge balance

Resources of Axon Instruments Patch-Clamp Amplifiers

View All

Videos and Demos

Calculate Decay Time Constant, and Perform Curve Fitting Using Axon pCLAMP Software

How to Combine Traces, Calculate Rise or Decay Time Constant, and Perform Curve Fitting Using Axon pCLAMP Software

Create Customized Command Waveforms Using pCLAMP Software

How to Create Customized Command Waveforms Using the pCLAMP Software

Use of Sequencing Keys, User List, and Stimulus File with pCLAMP Software

The Use of Sequencing Keys, User List, and Stimulus File with pCLAMP Software

Synchronizing Electrophysiology and Imaging Solutions with pCLAMP and MetaMorph Software

Synchronizing Electrophysiology and Imaging Solution with Axon pCLAMP and MetaMorph Software

Membrane Test Between Sweeps in Clampex & Analysis of Synaptic Events with Clampfit Data Analysis

Online Statistics, Membrane Test Between Sweeps in Clampex and Analysis of Synaptic Events with the Clampfit™ Data Analysis

Use of Axoporator for Single-cell Electroporation for Transfection and Dye-labeling

Use of the Axoporator 800A for Single-cell Electroporation for Transfection and Dye-labeling

Using Axoclamp 900A for Two-Electrode Voltage-Clamp of Xenopus Oocytes Expressing Ion Channels

Using the Axoclamp 900A for Two-Electrode Voltage-Clamp of Xenopus Oocytes Expressing Ion Channels

Use of Filters in Data Acquisition and the Clampfit Application

Writing Long-Term Potentiation and Depression Protocols and the Use of Filters in Data Acquisition and the Clampfit Application

Resistance Compensated Series

Series Resistance Compensated or Not

Using Electrophysiological Studies to Accelerate Mechanistic in Reception and Transmission

Using Electrophysiological Studies to Accelerate Mechanistic Study in Reception and Transmission

Hardware Choices for Optogenetics Considerations for Synchronized Light Patterning

Update and Hardware Choices for Optogenetics Considerations for Synchronized Light Patterning

Effects of Amyloid-Beta Proteins on hSlo1.1, a BK Channel, in Xenopus Oocyte Model

Investigations of the Effects of Amyloid-Beta Proteins on hSlo1.1, a BK Channel, in a Xenopus Oocyte Model

Nanopores-Electronic Tools for Single-Molecule Biophysics and Bio-Nanotechnologies

Nanopores-Electronic Tools for Single-Molecule Biophysics and Bio-Nanotechnologies

Axon Amplifiers and pCLAMP Software-key Features Reviews (Chinese version)

Axon Amplifiers and pCLAMP Software-key Features Reviews (Chinese version)

Using Clampfit in Basic Single Channel Analysis

Basic Single Channel Analysis Using Clampfit

Action Potential Analysis in Clampfit Module

Action Potential Analysis in Clampfit Module

A Walkthrough of Protocol Editor in pCLAMP Data Acquisition Module

A Walkthrough of the Protocol Editor in the pCLAMP Data Acquisition Module

A Walkthrough of Protocol Editor in pCLAMP (Chinese version)

A Walkthrough of Protocol Editor in pCLAMP (Chinese version)

Axon Instruments Patch-Clamp Amplifiers

Headstages

Description Details Part Number
Axoclamp 900A Headstage HS-9A X0.1U x0.1 headstage 1-2950-0359
Axoclamp 900A Headstage HS-9A X1U x1 headstage 1-2950-0360
Axoclamp 900A Headstage HS-9A X10U x10 headstage 1-2950-0361
Axoclamp 900A Headstage VG-9A X10U x10 virtual ground headstage 1-2950-0362
Axoclamp 900A Headstage VG-9A X100U x100 virtual ground headstage 1-2950-0363
MultiClamp 700B Headstage CV-7B Patch-clamp headstage 1-CV-7B
MultiClamp 700B Headstage CV-7B/BL Bilayer headstage 1-CV-7B/BL
MultiClamp 700B Headstage CV-7B/EC Electrochemistry headstage 1-CV-7B/EC

Electrode holders, adapters, and holder components

Description Details Part Number
Electrode Holder for U-Type Headstages Fits glass pipettes with outer diameter of 1.0 - 1.7 mm 1-HL-U
Electrode Holder Replacement Caps Set of 2 polycarbonate caps for HL-U holders 1-HL-CAP
Cone Washers 1.1mm ID Set of 10 orange cone washers for HL-U holders, fit glass with outer diameter of 1.0 - 1.1 mm 1-HLC-11
Cone Washers 1.3mm ID Set of 10 orange cone washers for HL-U holders, fit glass with outer diameter of 1.1 - 1.3 mm 1-HLC-13
Cone Washers 1.5mm ID Set of 10 orange cone washers for HL-U holders, fit glass with outer diameter of 1.3 - 1.5 mm 1-HLC-15
Cone Washers 1.7mm ID Set of 10 orange cone washers for HL-U holders, fit glass with outer diameter of 1.5 - 1.7 mm 1-HLC-17
Pins 1mm for HL-U Holders Set of 3 brass pins for HL-U holders, 1mm 1-HLP-U
2mm Plugs with Solder Cups Set of 5 general purpose gold plugs, 2mm, with solder cups 1-HLP-0
Silver Wire Set of 5 Ag wires, 0.25mm diameter, 50mm long 1-HLA-005
Silicone Tubing for Silver Wire 1mm ID x 70mm Long Silicone Tubing 1-HLT-70
Silver/Silver Chloride Pellet Assemblies Set of 3 Ag/AgCl pellet assemblies 1-HLA-003
Adapter For BNC Holders To U-Type Headstages Connects BNC holders to CV and HS headstages with threaded collets (U-type) 1-HLB-U
Right-Angle Adapter for HL-U Electrode Holders Fits CV and HS headstages with threaded collets (U-type) 1-HLR-U

Model Cells

Description Details Part Number
Model Cell for Oocytes Axoclamp/ GeneClamp model cell for oocytes. Connects to U-type HS series headstages 1-MCO-2U
Model Cell for TEVC / DSEVC Axoclamp/ GeneClamp model cell for two-electrode voltage clamp/ discontinuous single-electrode voltage-clamp conditions. Connects to U-type HS series headstages 1-CLAMP-1U
Model Cell for Whole Cell/ Single Channels Axopatch/ GeneClamp/ MultiClamp model cell for whole-cell / single-channel patch-clamp conditions. Connects to U-type CV series headstages 1-PATCH-1U
Model Cell for Bilayers Axopatch/ GeneClamp/ MultiClamp model cell for bilayer conditions. Connects to U-type CV series headstages 1-MCB-1U

Cables

Description Details Part Number
Cable To Connect Axoclamp 2 Headstages To Axoclamp 900A Amplifier Allows Axoclamp 2 headstages (HS-2, VG-2) to be used on Axoclamp 900A Amplifiers 1-2100-0934

Miscellaneous

Description Details Part Number
SoftPanel Amplifier Control Unit Provides physical knob and button control for computer-controlled Axoclamp 900-series and MultiClamp 700-series amplifiers. Requires a USB connection. 1-SOFTPANEL (USB)
Remote Buzz For Axoclamp 900A Hand-held buzz duration control for Axoclamp 900A Amplifier (1-50ms) 1-2950-0366
Silver/Silver Chloride Pellet Assemblies Set of 3 Ag/AgCl pellet assembly and Ag wire 1-HLA-003

Related Products & Services of Axon Instruments Patch-Clamp Amplifiers

Featured Applications

Current Clamp Amplifier

Current Clamp Amplifier

Current-clamp is a method used to measure the resulting membrane potential (voltage) from an…

Read More
Ion Channels

Ion Channels

An ion channel is a group of proteins that form a pore across the lipid bilayer of a cell. Each…

Read More
Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology Techniques

Patch Clamp

The patch-clamp technique involves a glass micropipette forming a tight gigaohm (GΩ) seal with the…

Read More
Series Resistance Compensation using Whole-Cell Recording Method

Series Resistance Compensation

Series resistance is the sum of all resistances between the amplifier and the inside of the cell…

Read More
Patch-Clamp Single Channel Recording Technique

Single Channel Recording

The patch-clamp technique involves a glass micropipette forming a tight gigaohm seal with the cell…

Read More
Voltage Clamp Amplifier

Voltage Clamp Amplifier

In an experiment using the voltage-clamp method, the investigator controls the membrane voltage in…

Read More
Whole Cell Recording Patch-Clamp Technique

Whole Cell Recording

The whole cell patch-clamp technique involves a glass micropipette forming a tight gigaohm (GΩ)…

Read More

Ready to get started?

We are ready to help you solve your tough research challenges. Our proven solutions and highly qualified teams across the globe can help advance your next big discovery.

Request Quote

Maximize flexibility in application workflow and experimental design

Contact our specialist today to discuss how to implement a solution that works for you

Request Quote

Ready to get started?

We are ready to help you solve your tough research challenges. Our proven solutions and highly qualified teams across the globe can help advance your next big discovery.

Request Quote

Maximize flexibility in application workflow and experimental design

Contact our specialist today to discuss how to implement a solution that works for you

Request Quote
Compare /