Bilayer membrane amplifier - BLM-120

This instrument features an extremely sensitive current to voltage converter specially designed to record currents from single channels incorporated in artificial membranes (black-films).

The circuitry of this amplifier benefits from most of the technology used in the Bio-Logic Patch-Clamp amplifiers.

One of the outstanding features is a three-position input inverter. With this device, the cis and trans can be inverted or both connected to the ground. This device permits a significant reduction of the occurrence of film breakage during perfusion and solution exchange and is manipulated from the front panel of the instrument.

FEATURES

• Large choice of head-stages giving sensitivity from 0.1 mV/pA (100 MOhm feedback resistor) to 100 mV/pA (100 GOhm feedback resistor).
• The head-stages have an internal frequency booster (no need for recalibration of the instrument with head-stage exchange).
• Membrane capacity compensation permitting the measurement of the film.
• Selectable 5-pole output filter.
• 2000 points digital display for voltage and current reading.
• Remote inversion of the ground and of the active input.
• Remote grounding of the active input.
• Internal triangular pulse generator for easy monitoring of membrane formation.

SPECIFICATIONS

Head-stages

• Current to voltage converter with built-in frequency compensation.

Sensitivity (depending on feedback resistance of the head-stage)

• 100 MOhm: 0.1 mV/pA
• 1 GOhm: 1 mV/pA
• 10 GOhm: 10 mV/pA
• 100 GOhm: 100 mV/pA

Holding voltage setting

• +/- 200 mV on a ten-turn dial.
• Input for external command.

Membrane capacitance measurement

• 0 to 999 pF (o to 99.9 pF for the 100 GOhm head-stage).

Junction compensation

• +/- 200 mV

Voltmeter

• 4.5 digit voltmeter to read the current or the holding voltage.

Power supply

• 220 V/50 Hz, 110 V/60 Hz.

ORDERING INFORMATION

The BLM-120 amplifier is delivered with 1 GOhm resistance head-stage and with two PC-S3 (without suction) electrode-holders. Please specify on order if you want to receive different types of head-stage or electrode-holder.