The 7800 Visual Patching and Imaging Chamber consists of an aluminium heat exchanger plate heated by a thin heating element. The heat exchanger supplies concentric heat to the chamber itself and in-line heat to the incoming perfusate ensuring both are heated uniformly. A thermistor embedded in the plate gives temperature feedback to the control system. In its upper surface the plate has a series of annular grooves to carry up to four perfusate tubes. The perfusate tubes carry perfusate to the central chamber at very low level encouraging laminar flow across the chamber.
A gas inlet port allows gas to be introduced for hypoxia studies. Gas flows around the grooves and is heated, eventually exhausting into the central chamber through radial grooves. The heat exchanger plate is coated on all surfaces with p.t.f.e. to discourage drug adhesion. Considerable attention in the design stage has resulted in a chamber with a very low profile reducing the likelihood of the unit interfering with the objective lens and instrumentation probes, electrodes, etc. Because the unit is very compact, the heater output has been closely balanced to the thermal mass of the heat exchanger and the likely demands of perfusate / gas flow. The unit should therefore be protected as much as possible from outside influences such as cold draughts, open doors and windows that may cause unexpected and unwanted variations in temperature.
The temperature controller using PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) algorithms allows close control of the perfusate temperature to within +/- 0.1° C. A second temperature feedback probe can be placed in the central chamber and connected to the controller allowing both chamber temperature and temperature offset (between perfusate and chamber) to be established. The controller has analogue data output capabilities. All power outputs from the controller are DC ensuring that there are no electromagnetic noise emissions to interfere with other instrumentation.
A unique design of suction capillary tube ensures a steady flow of waste perfusate from the centre chamber whilst maintaining a smooth, constant level of perfusate in the centre chamber. The suction tube is adjustable for perfusate depth and has a low profile to avoid interference with other instrumentation probes.
The heat exchanger plate is designed to accept a 22mm slip carrier (along with a vented, double glazed cover if required for hypoxia studies) or a 35mm Petri type dish. Additional slip carriers and chambers to special designs are available on request.
The heat exchanger is mounted on the microscope stage via an insulating adapter ring. The adapter ring has location diameters of 108mm and 110mm making the unit suitable for the majority of upright and inverted microscopes. Other adapter rings to suit a particular microscope can be supplied on request.
Features
- Easy setup — place on the microscope stage, connect the controller and tubing, and switch on
- Combined in-line and concentric heating delivers exceptional temperature stability during perfusion
- Low-profile design provides clear access for electrodes and objectives on upright microscopes
- Chemically inert PTFE (Teflon®) coating prevents drug adhesion and resists flooding into gas inlets
- Gas inlet through the heat exchanger enables hypoxia studies
- Laminar flow across the chamber ensures stable fluid movement and imaging conditions
- Unique suction capillary design maintains constant perfusate depth with a smooth, stable surface
- Ag/AgCl reference wire can be easily positioned within the chamber
- Vented lid seals the chamber for hypoxia or environmental control experiments
- Annular ring adapter fits most upright and inverted microscopes
- Adapts to either 22 mm coverslips or 35 mm Petri dishes
- Digital and analog data outputs available from the temperature controller
- Configurable temperature alarms and PID-based predictive control for precise feedback
- DC-powered system eliminates electromagnetic interference with other instruments
Specifications:
Chamber:
- Temperature stability: ±0.1 °C (at flow rates of 2–3 mL/s)
- Flow rate range: 1 mL/min typical
- Temperature range: ambient to 42 °C (used for fever studies)
- Perfusate temperature control: combined in-line and concentric heating
- Chamber depth: ~1 mm (maintained via suction capillary)
- Gas control: integrated inlet through heat exchanger for hypoxia studies
- Construction: aluminium heat exchanger, PTFE-coated surfaces
- Compatible sample holders: 22 mm coverslip or 35 mm Petri dish
- Microscope adapter diameters: 108 mm / 110 mm (other sizes available)
- Mounting: annular adapter ring suitable for upright and inverted microscopes
Temperature Controller:
- Control type: PID (Proportional–Integral–Derivative)
- Temperature accuracy: ±0.1 °C
- Feedback inputs: 2 thermistor probes (1 embedded, 1 removable for chamber monitoring)
- Power output: DC (no electromagnetic noise)
- Configurable temperature envelope alarms
- Data outputs: digital and analog
