An alignment mechanism for two electrode voltage clamp perfusion chamber, for electrophysiological testing of oocytes

摘要

An automated mechanism for guiding a microelectrode 14 toward an oocyte placed in a perfusion chamber 30 consists of a movable guide tube 56 holding the electrode 14 and a fixed guide collar 42 in fixed relation to the target oocyte. Because the guide tube 56 and guide collar 42 are independently mounted, the alignment of the tip of the microelectrode 14 is effected by its placement within the precisely aligned guide collar 42, irrespective of any fine misalignment of the guide tube 56. Accordingly, a change of microelectrode 14 in the guide tube 56 does not affect its final alignment toward the oocyte so long as the calibration of the guide collar 42 is not disturbed, thereby providing a mechanism for maintaining the alignment of different microelectrodes 14 successively mounted in the system without requiring recalibration.