IMPROVED INTERFACE PATCH CLAMPING

摘要

A novel development of the conventional patch clamp technique for measurement of whole cell electrical activity provides for cells to be suspended in a liquid medium at a liquid/air interface (by virtue of the effect of surface tension at the interface) whereby cells are accessible at the interface to a microstructure electrode (such as a pipette tip (3)) to which a cell can attach to form an electrical seal, for the purpose of whole cell voltage clamp recording. The electrode forms a high resistance electrical seal with a cell suspended at the interface without the need to press the cell against a solid support surface. The step of bringing the electrode into contact with the interface is achieved not by relative movement, but by applying a differential pressure across the interface to cause the meniscus to be lowered and so to "bulge" (16) towards and into contact with the electrode. Also provided are apparatus for carrying out the interface patch clamp technique and control logic for operating a computer to carry out the technique.