The Essentials to Micromanipulation
What it takes to perform micromanipulation (and microinjection) is as follows.
- Microscope
- Mounting Adaptor(s) to mount micromanipulators onto a microscope
- Coarse manipulator(s) to quickly place a micropipette in the field of view and move it close to the specimen.
- Fine micromanipulator(s) to perform the final approach to the cell and insert the micropipette into the cell.
- Microinjector(s) to hold the egg or inject solution into it.
- Anti-vibration base to absorb the external vibration and prevent its transmission to the microscope.
The following instruments are required to produce and fabricate micropipettes/microelectrodes.
Micropipette/Microelectrode Puller
It is used to pull a glass capillary into a micropipette/microelectrode.
Microforge
It is used to break, fire-polish, put a spike on or bend a micropipette/microelectrode.
Micropipette/Microelectrode Grinder
It is used to bevel the tip of a micropipette/microelectrode.
It is important that micromanipulators used in electrophysiology, particularly for slice patch clamping, be free from vibration and drift. Anything that causes a micropipette to move can ruin an experiment. Therefore, micromanipulators used for this type of work need to be securely mounted and allow only minimal drift.
