ePatch

The world’s smallest integrated patch clamp amplifier and data acquisition system for whole-cell and single-channel recordings.

A very low noise one channel amplifier enabling high bandwidth acquisitions for voltage-clamp measurements.

The miniaturized ePatch amplifier integrates in a small headstage the low-noise amplifier, the pulse generator and the digitizer into only 42 x 18 x 78 mm and it is connected directly to the USB port of a laptop without the need of any other external bulky digitizer and control unit.

Applications

Measuring the reversal potential of HCN2 channel. HCN2 channel currents activated by hyperpolarizing prepulse to −120 mV, followed by a test pulse to potentials between −110 and −60 mV (top panel). Data were saved in .dat format and analyzed off-line using Mathlab software (The MathWorks, USA). Plotting the current at the beginning of the test pulse against the test pulse potential provides the instantaneous current–voltage relation. Fitting data with a linear regression yields the reversal potential of -21,88 mV (bottom panel), in agreement with the the experimental conditions (25 C°; [K+]in 130mM; [K+]out 30mM; [Na+]in 10mM; [Na+]out 110mM) and the published PNa/PK (Biel et al. 2009). Biel, Martin, Christian Wahl-Schott, Stylianos Michalakis, and Xiangang Zong. 2009. “Hyperpolarization-Activated Cation Channels: From Genes to Function.” Physiological Reviews 89(3): 847–85.
Voltage dependence of activation of hERG channel. Outward K+ current elicited by hERG channel transiently expressed in mammalian HEK293T cells (top panel). Cells were held at -80 mV and depolarized to voltages between -60 and +40 mV for 4 s, and then clamped to –50 mV for 6 s (centre panel). Data were saved in .abf format (Axon binary format v2.0) and analyzed off-line. Voltage-dependence of activation was obtained from plots of tail currents against voltage; fitting to the data with Boltzmann equation provides the half activation potential of -16,2 mV (bottom panel) , in agreement with the value reported in Butler et al. 2018. Butler, Andrew et al. 2018. “Action Potential Clamp Characterization of the S631A HERG Mutation Associated with Short QT Syndrome.” Physiological reports 6(17): e13845–e13845.
ATP-evoked inward current of P2X2 receptor transiently expressed in mammalian HEK293T cells. The cell was held at -40mV under the whole-cell configuration. Scale bar 500 ms/1nA. ATP was delivered to the cell for ~ 1,5 s by means of an automated pinch valves prefusion system and then rapidly washed out (green and red bar respectively).The experiment was performed at RT; recording solutions were prepared as in Habermacher et al 2016 (eLife, 5:e11050).
Voltage-dependent activation of Nav1.5 sodium channel expressed in HEK293T cells. Representative whole-cell current traces recordedfrom a HEK-Nav1.5 cell,using the indicated pulse protocol. Data were recorded at 10KHz bandwidth (Sampling Rate: 80 KHz).Both pipette and membrane capacitance were compensated. Voltage errors were minimized using 80% series resistance compensation. Pipette was filled with a solution containing (in mM): 135 NaCl, 4 KCl, 1 CaCl2,2 MgCl2, 10 HEPES, 20 Glucose, PH 7.4. Bath solution contained (in mM): 5 NaCl, 140CsCl, 4 Mg-ATP, 2 MgCl2, 5 EGTA, 10 HEPES, PH 7.4.

EZ Patch - the new ePatch software interface

EZ Patch software is the new patch-clamp electrophysiology software developed and released by Elements for easy control of the ePatch amplifier. EZ Patch allows:

  • Customizable user-friendly Windows-format interface
  • Real-time display of voltage and current digitized data
  • Parametric voltage protocols editor
  • Automatic or manual control of compensation settings
  • Membrane parameters estimation to keep track of cell health
  • Real-time data analysis (C-fast – estimation, noise, I/V graph, current histogram, etc.)
  • Digital LabBook
  • Data output saving formats: .abf
  • Available for Windows, coming soon for Mac OS

Discover how easy it is to use of EZ Patch by watching the demo videos in the Videos section below.

How to connect ePatch in a typical patch-clamp setup

Features

  • Open input (RMS) noise: 115 fA rms @ 1kHz – 460 fA rms @ 10 kHz – 3.6 pA rms @ 100 kHz
  • Current ranges: ±200pA (Gain 2.25GΩ), ±2nA (Gain 225MΩ), ±20nA (Gain 22.5MΩ), ±200nA (Gain 2.25MΩ)
  • Parametric voltage protocols for pulse generator in the range of ± 500 mV
  • Available bandwidth between 62,5 Hz to 100 KHz
  • Max sampling rate: 200 ksps
  • C-fast – C-slow – R-series
  • C fast compensation range: 0-11 pF
  • R series compensation range: 0 -100 MΩ
  • Auto electrodes voltage offset fine compensation
  • Data output format .abf
  • Zap pulse
  • USB powered
  • Dovetail or rod bar mounting
  • Size & Weight: 42 x 18 x 78 mm, 200 g

Software

EZ Patch – Windows

ePatch amplifier Software GUI

(version 1.0.0)
for Windows

EZ Patch – Mac

Coming soon!

NOTE: EDR Episodic is replaced by EZ Patch since 07-2019. If you bought your ePatch before this date contact info@elements-ic.com to get a firmware update.