Intracellular Low Cost Electrometer

Overview

A low cost version of the research-grade Intracellular Electrometer. The important features required for low noise, drift free recording from glass microelectrodes have been retained in this lower cost model. The Intracellular Low Cost Electrometer is easy to use and is an excellent choice for student teaching laboratories. It includes a probe, which is a very small, lightweight active headstage that directly to the probe input on the Electrometer. Its small size and low mass permit easy mounting in a micropositioner, while its epoxy-sealed construction affords maximum resistance to saline corrosion. Measured voltages and current can be easily monitored and recorded by a PowerLab and LabChart data acquisition system via BNC-BNC cables connected to the Electrometer's BNC analog outputs. Two voltage outputs provide the amplifier voltages (unscaled and scaled 10x), while another voltage output provide the bridge volatge. The current output provides a voltage signal scaled to 20mV/nA of output current.

Included with the Intracellular Low Cost Electrometer:

Electrode Probe

Accessories purchased separately:

E Series Electrode Holder (base your selection on the outer diameter of your electrode glass).

Features

Fixed gains of x1 and x10.
Capacitance Compensation neutralizes input capacitance for up to 50 pF.
Junction potentials of up to ±200 mV are nulled with the DC Position control.
Electrode Test provides convenient electrode resistance check.
Push button operated Buzz produces oscillations at pipette tip to facilitate cell impalement.
Convenient Probe Test port permits fast check of amplifier performance.

Current Injection:
Bridge balance circuitry of the IE-251A-V allows simultaneous stimulation and recording through microelectrode resistances up to 1000 MΩ in two ranges. Voltages at the Stimulus Input are converted to constant currents applied to the electrode. The steady state and transient components of the current injection artifact are nulled with the DC and transient balance controls. The corrected signal is viewed at the single-ended bridge output. Electrode resistance is read from the DC balance ten-turn dial.

Overdrive Indicators:
Two visual indicators call attention to overload conditions:

Input Overdrive is illuminated whenever the probe input voltage exceeds ±1 V, caused by either excessive current through the microelectrode or an open circuit (open or blocked electrode).
Current Overdrive warns of excessive voltage (>50 V) applied to the Stimulus Input.

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Details and Tech Specs

Technical

Ordering Information

When ordering, please specify the following: Mains Power (V) = 115 for 110-115 V or 220 for 220-240 V

Specifications

Input Impedance: 10¹¹ Ω shunted by 0.5 pF
Output Resistance: 100 Ω
Gains: x1, x10
Risetime (10-90%): 10 µsec, measured through 20 MΩ resistor
Noise Level: 25 µV p-p input shorted (0.1 Hz to 10 kHz) at x1 output & 250 µV p-p, 20 MΩ at input
Capacitance Compensation: 0-50 pF
Probe Input Voltage Range: ±1 V
DC Positioning Range: ± 200 mV, referred to input
Leakage Current: Adjustable to zero
Electrode Resistance Test: 1 mV/MO

Buzz:

Amplitude variable 0 to 15 V
Frequency variable 100 Hz to 10 kHz

Current Injection:

Bridge Balance Resistance Ranges: 0 - 100 MΩ & 0 - 1000 MΩ
Current Injection Limit: ±1 V divided by electrode R or 0.5 µA, whichever occurs first
Stimulus Input Resistance: 3.3 kΩ
Max. Stimulus Input: ± 50 V
Bridge Bal. Output Resist.: 100 Ω
I Monitor Output Resist.: 1 kΩ
I Monitor Output Scale Factor: 1V = 50 nA

Additional Features: