Patch-Clamp amplifier

Patch-Clamp amplifier - RK-400

RK-400 picture

The RK-400 is a high performance patch clamp amplifier for whole cell and single channel recording. Three interchangeable headstages offer a wide range of applications.

Specifications
Ordering Information

General features of the RK-400

The intrinsic noise is close to the minimal theoretical noise, and a large bandwidth (50 kHz) is available with a uniform frequency response on any resistor or capacitor headstage. A gain from 1 to 1000 by steps of 1, 2, 5 can be applied to the headstage signal.
It can run in voltage clamp (VClamp) or current clamp (IClamp) mode, with distinct holding and input commands, and it can be switched from VClamp to IClamp, either manually or through a remote command signal. Transient compensations are switched automatically off when going to current clamp mode, to prevent oscillations.
Two digital displays simultaneously indicate the voltage and current.
Transient and leak neutralizations offer advantage of optimal headstage amplification.
A series resistance compensation circuit and a supercharging circuit permits a satisfactory control of the potential or current to the preparation.
Additional features such as a duration adjustable signal (zap) to penetrate cells, a 5 poles overshoot free (Bessel) anti-aliasing filter, are provided.

Optional models

The headstages consists in a sealed proprietary circuit with FET input, offering two possible gains either with two different resistors feedback or with a resistor and a capacitance, depending on the model :

Model	Headstage Components	Values	Available gains (mV/pA)	Applications
HK-R-408/10	Dual resistor	100 MOhm, 10 GOhm	0.1, 10	whole cell or single channel
HK-C-408	resistor + capacitor	100 MOhm, C	0.1, 1	whole cell or very low noise single channel
HK-C-409	resistor + capacitor	1 GOhm, C	1, 1	small whole cell or macropatch recording, or very low noise single channel

Every headstage comes with a cassette containing the trimmed frequency compensations, so they can be interchanged rapidly without adjustment.

The RK-400 appears as a 19" amplifier box 2U high linked to the amplifier headstage. A complete manual allows a fast mastering of the system.

DETAILED CHARACTERISTICS

Specifications

Head-Stage	Sealed proprietary hybrid circuit with FET input.Dual resistor feedback element for HK-R head-stages or hybrid capacitor/resistor feedback element for HK-C head-stages. Model HK-R-410/08 : Dual resistor Head-stage (10 GOhm/100 MOhm) Model HK-C-409 : Hybrid Head-stage (C/1 GOhm) Model HK-C-408 : Hybrid Head-stage (C/100 MOhm)
Gain Switch	10 to 10000 mV/pA (10 GOhm resistor feedback) 1 to 1000 mV/pA (1 GOhm resistor feedback and capacitor mode) 0.1 to 100 mV/pA (0.1 GOhm resistor feedback and capacitor mode for the HK-C-408)
Frequency response	Internally limited to 50 kHz in all modes
Measurement Range	Integrator : see below Resistance mode 10 nA x (1/R) (R = feedback resistor in GOhm)
Noise	Capacitor feedback : 30 +/- 3 fA rms at 1 kHz, 300 +/- 20 fA rms at 10 kHz Resistor feedback : 10 GOhm : 60 fA rms at 1 kHz, 0.6 pA rms at 10 kHz 1 GOhm : 0.15 pA rms at 1 kHz, 1 pA rms at 10 kHz 100 MOhm : 0.45 pA rms at 1 kHz, 1.8 pA rms at 10 kHz (Measured with the 5-pole Bessel filter)
Operating Modes	Voltage-clamp, Current-clamp to zero current, Current-clamp with commands, Search (Vtrack), external switching of V/I clamp
Internal Holding Commands	Separate voltage and current setting for voltage-clamp mode and current-clamp mode. Voltage-clamp ± 0 to 200 mV Current-clamp (Range dependent on head-stage gain, ex : 1 nA/V for capacitor and 1 GOhm feedback)
Junction Zeroing	± 200 mV
Input for External Commands	Two input ports for voltage command (scaling 20 mV/V) Current command. (Scaling dependent on head-stage gain, ex. : 1 nA/V for capacitor and 1 GOhm feedback)
Internal Pulse Generator	1 mV and 10 mV square wave, operative in V-clamp mode only, Zap signal for cell penetration
Leak Neutralization	Leak conductance (range dependent on head-stage gain. ex : 0 to 20 nS for capacitor and 1 GOhm feedback) (infinite to 50 MOhm)
Capacitances Transient Neutralization	Electrode fast compensation : 0 to 10 pF, 0.5 to 5 ms Electrode slow compensation : 0 to 1 pF, 0.1 to 10 ms Cell parameters neutralization : 0.5 to 100 MOhm of series resistance, 1 to 100 pF of cell capacitance
Series Resistance Compensation	0 to 100 % of the series resistance 1 to 100 microsecond lag
Low-Pass Filter	Active 5-pole Bessel filter : 0.3, 1, 3, and 10 kHz Direct output with 50 kHz bandpass.
Digital Voltmeters	Two 4 1/2 digit liquid crystal. One for current, and one for voltage measurements.
Power Supply	220/110 V - 50/60 Hz Doubly regulated power supply
Weight	3 kg

Ordering Information

Reference	Description
011-40/A	RK-400, 220 V / 50 Hz
011-40/B	RK-400, 110 V / 60 Hz
011-41	HKR-408/10 Dual resistor head-stage 100 MOhm / 10 GOhm
011-48	HKC-408 Mixed resistor/capacitor head-stage 100 MOhm/C
011-49	HKC-409 Mixed resistor/capacitor head-stage 1 GOhm/C

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