Our extensive selection of accessories, including microscope and amplifier headstage mounting adaptors, ensures we have products that meet your precision and movement range requirements.

Types of electrophysiology system manipulators

Electrophysiology system manipulators generally use three different drive mechanisms to control their movements, either mechanical, hydraulic, or motorised/electronic, each having advantages or disadvantages in certain situations. In addition to the drive method of a micromanipulator, you will need to decide between other capabilities. Typically the most important features include:

• The type of movement – coarse or fine movement control, or both.
• The direction of movement – be that in single axis or three-axes.
• The movement range - typically manipulators with fine movement have more restricted overall ranges.

Mechanical

Mechanical micromanipulators use mechanical gears or cantilevers to reduce macroscopic movement into microscopic ones.  Mechanical mechanisms may not be suited to settings that require higher magnification as the micromanipulator can vibrate the instrument when dials are turned.

Motorised or electronic

Motor-driven micromanipulators also use similar gears to mechanical models but are driven by electrical motors that are controlled by remote buttons or joysticks, reducing the risk of vibration.

Hydraulic

Hydraulic micromanipulators may incorporate some mechanical elements but for the most part, use the movement of hydraulic fluid and like their motorised equivalents allow for remote control.  Hydraulic manipulators are completely free of electrical interference, which can be a consideration in some applications. Macroscopic movements are scaled down to a microscopic level as the fluid is transferred between cylinders or pistons of larger or smaller diameters. If you need an electrophysiology system manipulator requiring improved instrument stability – as in patch-clamp recordings with motionless micropipettes – consider a water hydraulic model. Alternatively, an oil hydraulic micromanipulator is considered best for fast, quick movements, especially when in conjunction with a joystick controller.