Micropipette
Encyclopedia
A micropipette is one of two different instruments used in science laboratories.
/ Germany). The founder of the company Eppendorf
, Dr. Heinrich Netheler, inherited the rights and started the commercial production of micropipettes within the sixties.
The adjustable micropipette is a Wisconsin invention developed through interactions among several people, primarily inventor Warren Gilson and Henry Lardy, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Micropipettes brands include ErgoOne, Eppendorf, Hamilton, Rainin, Drummond, BrandTech, Oxford, Hirschmann, Biohit, Labnet, Nichiryo, Gilson, Corning, VistaLab, Thermo, Jencons, Vertex, Handypett, and
Pricisexx.
and patch clamp
ing. Most micropipettes are made of borosilicate, aluminosilicate
or quartz
with many types and sizes of glass tubing being available. Each of these compositions has unique properties which will determine suitable applications.
Glass micropipettes are fabricated in a micropipette puller and are typically used in a micromanipulator
.
into a positionable pipette platform. These are used to create a recirculation zone, allowing for constant control of a micrometer sized environment at the tip of the pipette. Currently these pipettes are made of polydimethylsiloxane
(PDMS) which is molded from a physical master. Interfacing of these pipettes allows for multiple solutions to be loaded and switched on demand, along with concentration control and solution pulsing. Invented by Alar Ainla in Owe Orwar's group at Chalmers University of Technology
in Sweden.
. The accuracy and precision of pipette
decides the quality of test result perform in particular laboratory.
Micro Pipettes assist lab technician in handling liquids with precise measurement. It is a superior edition of medicine dropper or pasteur pipette or serological pipette and works on the equal principle of making equivalent vacuum
for drawing up the liquid. With the purpose to make sure correctness at all times, Micro pipette requires to be calibrated. This process is known as pipette calibration.
Irrespective of brand of pipette or how expensive pipette is, every micro pipette manufacturer recommends checking the calibration at least every six months if used regularly. Companies which are involved in with drugs or foods are needed this procedure of calibrating quarterly or in every three months. Schools which are conducting chemistry
classes can have this process annually other than those who are involved in the forensics and research where scores of testing goes on so that they have to perform this monthly.
History
The first micropipette was patented in 1960 by Dr Hanns Schmitz (MarburgMarburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
/ Germany). The founder of the company Eppendorf
Eppendorf
Eppendorf can refer to:*Eppendorf, Saxony, a German town in the Freiberg district in Saxony*Hamburg-Eppendorf, a quarter of Hamburg*Eppendorf, Bochum*Eppendorf , a biotechnology company in Hamburg-Eppendorf...
, Dr. Heinrich Netheler, inherited the rights and started the commercial production of micropipettes within the sixties.
The adjustable micropipette is a Wisconsin invention developed through interactions among several people, primarily inventor Warren Gilson and Henry Lardy, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Adjustable micropipette
Pipettes are used to accurately measure and dispense small volumes of liquid. The capacity of a micropipette can range from less than 1 µl to 1000 µl (1 ml), while macropipettes can measure volumes greater than 1ml.Micropipettes brands include ErgoOne, Eppendorf, Hamilton, Rainin, Drummond, BrandTech, Oxford, Hirschmann, Biohit, Labnet, Nichiryo, Gilson, Corning, VistaLab, Thermo, Jencons, Vertex, Handypett, and
Pricisexx.
Glass micropipette
These are used to physically interact with microscopic samples, such as in the procedures of microinjectionMicroinjection
Microinjection refers to the process of using a glass micropipette to insert substances at a microscopic or borderline macroscopic level into a single living cell. It is a simple mechanical process in which a needle roughly 0.5 to 5 micrometers in diameter penetrates the cell membrane and/or the...
and patch clamp
Patch clamp
The patch clamp technique is a laboratory technique in electrophysiology that allows the study of single or multiple ion channels in cells. The technique can be applied to a wide variety of cells, but is especially useful in the study of excitable cells such as neurons, cardiomyocytes, muscle...
ing. Most micropipettes are made of borosilicate, aluminosilicate
Aluminosilicate
Aluminosilicate minerals are minerals composed of aluminium, silicon, and oxygen, plus countercations. They are a major component of kaolin and other clay minerals....
or quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
with many types and sizes of glass tubing being available. Each of these compositions has unique properties which will determine suitable applications.
Glass micropipettes are fabricated in a micropipette puller and are typically used in a micromanipulator
Micromanipulator
A micromanipulator is a device which is used to physically interact with a sample under a microscope, where a level of precision of movement is necessary that cannot be achieved by the unaided human hand...
.
Microfluidic pipette
A recent introduction into the micropipette field integrates the versatility of microfluidicsMicrofluidics
Microfluidics deals with the behavior, precise control and manipulation of fluids that are geometrically constrained to a small, typically sub-millimeter, scale.Typically, micro means one of the following features:* small volumes...
into a positionable pipette platform. These are used to create a recirculation zone, allowing for constant control of a micrometer sized environment at the tip of the pipette. Currently these pipettes are made of polydimethylsiloxane
Polydimethylsiloxane
Polydimethylsiloxane belongs to a group of polymeric organosilicon compounds that are commonly referred to as silicones. PDMS is the most widely used silicon-based organic polymer, and is particularly known for its unusual rheological properties. PDMS is optically clear, and, in general, is...
(PDMS) which is molded from a physical master. Interfacing of these pipettes allows for multiple solutions to be loaded and switched on demand, along with concentration control and solution pulsing. Invented by Alar Ainla in Owe Orwar's group at Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology , is a Swedish university located in Gothenburg that focuses on research and education in technology, natural science and architecture.-History:...
in Sweden.
Micro Pipette calibration
Micro Pipettes are one of the most important tool for various procedures in a laboratoryLaboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
. The accuracy and precision of pipette
Pipette
A pipette is a laboratory tool used to transport a measured volume of liquid.-Use and variations:Pipettes are commonly used in molecular biology, analytical chemistry as well as medical tests...
decides the quality of test result perform in particular laboratory.
Micro Pipettes assist lab technician in handling liquids with precise measurement. It is a superior edition of medicine dropper or pasteur pipette or serological pipette and works on the equal principle of making equivalent vacuum
Vacuum
In everyday usage, vacuum is a volume of space that is essentially empty of matter, such that its gaseous pressure is much less than atmospheric pressure. The word comes from the Latin term for "empty". A perfect vacuum would be one with no particles in it at all, which is impossible to achieve in...
for drawing up the liquid. With the purpose to make sure correctness at all times, Micro pipette requires to be calibrated. This process is known as pipette calibration.
Irrespective of brand of pipette or how expensive pipette is, every micro pipette manufacturer recommends checking the calibration at least every six months if used regularly. Companies which are involved in with drugs or foods are needed this procedure of calibrating quarterly or in every three months. Schools which are conducting chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
classes can have this process annually other than those who are involved in the forensics and research where scores of testing goes on so that they have to perform this monthly.