Two Electrode Clamp Amplifier

Turbo TEC (npi electronic) systems are accurate and extremely fast voltage and current clamp amplifiers for studying large membrane currents. They are based on the standard two electrode approach. TEC systems are ideal for recordings from oocytes as well as for recording from other excitable tissues with relatively large membrane currents such as vertebrate and invertebrate neurons and muscle cells.

For more information on the TEC amplifier please visit npi electronic website

Two Electrode Clamp Amplifier

Turbo TEC (npi electronic) systems are accurate and extremely fast voltage and current clamp amplifiers for studying large membrane currents. They are based on the standard two electrode approach. TEC systems are ideal for recordings from oocytes as well as for recording from other excitable tissues with relatively large membrane currents such as vertebrate and invertebrate neurons and muscle cells. A significant improvement over other two electrode clamp amplifiers is that the TEC systems fully compensate the current injecting microelectrode and need NO virtual ground for recording membrane currents. TEC systems can be operated with a reduced bandwidth of 10Hz to allow simultaneous single-channel recordings with patch-clamp amplifiers. All amplifiers are equipped with two headstages. The standard output voltage is ±150V. All systems include four modes of operation, many automatic functions, protection circuits, versatile I/O signal conditioning units, and digitally controlled operation.

TEC-03X The TEC-03X is a standard two electrode clamp system for the study of Xenopus oocytes. Three preconfigured voltage clamp operation modes and easy-to-use front panel elements make this amplifier the first choice for standard oocyte experiments.

TEC-05X The TEC-05X is a universal two electrode clamp system for recordings muscle cells and large neurons, but also from Xenopus oocytes. It allows the use of high resistance electrodes.

TEC-10CX The TEC-10CX is npi's most sophisticated two electrode amplifier for Xenopus oocytes. Multiple elements for controlling parameters of voltage clamp and a transient compensation unit allow experiments with a maximum of clamp speed and accuracy.

The above systems are standard versions. All amplifiers are equipped with two headstages.

MODES of OPERATION
RPel: Potential Electrode Resistance Test; CC: Current Clamp Mode; VC: Voltage Clamp Mode; RCel: Current Electrode Resistance Test; BR: Bridge Mode (optional, TEC-05X); MODE selection: two toggle switches (TEC-03X, TEC-05X), or pushbuttons (TEC-10CX) , LED indicators; remote selection by TTL inputs, software assessable (optional).

HEADSTAGES
Potential headstage:
Operating voltage ±15 V; Size (approx.): 65x25x25mm, holding bar diameter 8 mm, length 10 cm; Electrode connector: BNC with driven shield, grounded enclosure; Ground connector: 2.4 mm connector, 1 mm or headstage enclosure; Reference connector (bath): gold-plated SUBCLIC, grounded shield; Input resistance: >10E+13 Ohm; Differential input (for supression of bath potentials): cmr> 80 dB.

Current headstage (15 V, 45 V):
Operating voltage: ±15 V, ±45 V ; Size (approx.): same as potential headstage, Electrode connector: BNC with driven shield; Ground: 2.4 mm connector, 1 mm or headstage enclosure; Input resistance: >10E+12 Ohm (internally trimmable); Driven shield range: ±45 V.

Current headstage (150 V, 225 V):
Operating voltage: ±150 V (standard) or ±225 V; Size (approx.): 100x50x30 mm with heat sink 100x50x20 mm (150 V) or 225x40x60 mm (225 V), grounded enclosure, holding bar diameter 8 mm, length 10 cm (isolated from ground, standard system only); Electrode connector: gold-plated SUBVIS connector, grounded shield; Input resistance: >10E+12 Ohm (internally trimmable); Power dissipation: 6 W (standard) or 20 W (225 V).

Current range:
450nA / 100 MOhm or 4.5 µA / 10 MOhm (45 V), 150 µA / 1 MOhm (150 V), 220 µA / 1 MOhm (225 V); Current range switch (optional): x2, x5, x10, or x0.1, x0.2, 0.5, x1.

Bandwidth and Speed of Response:
Full power bandwidth (Re = 0): >100 kHz; Rise time (10 % - 90 %, current pulse of 100 µA applied to Re = 1 MOhm): <30 µs; Bandwidth switch: wide band or 10 Hz for parallel patch clamp recordings.

Current Electrode Parameter Controls:
Offset compensation: ten-turn control, ±1200 mV; Capacity compensation (optional, TEC-05X): range 0 - 30 pF, ten-turn potentiometer; Leakage current: adjustable to zero with ten-turn control.

Potential Electrode Parameter Controls:
Offset compensation: ±200mV, ten-turn control; Capacity compensation: range 0 - 30 pF, ten-turn control.

POTENTIAL OUTPUTS:
Potential electrode: two outputs, sensitivity x10 mV and x40 mV, voltage range ±15V; Current electrode: sensitivity x10 mV, voltage range ±15 V; DISPLAY (switch selected): XXX mV.

AUDIO MONITOR:
Pitch correlated with potential signals, switch selected.

OSCILLATION SHUT-OFF:
Turns off current injection and capacity compensation, function indicated by red/green LED, disabled/off/reset switch, threshold set with linear control (0 - 1200 mV).

ELECTRODE RESISTANCE TEST (both electrodes):
100 mV/MOhm, obtained by application of square current pulses ±10 nA, display XX.XMOhm, selected automatically.

CURRENT OUTPUTS:
Uncompensated output signal: sensitivity 0.1 V/µA, voltage range ±15 V; Compensated/filtered output: sensitivity: 0.1 V...10 V/µA in 1-2-5 steps, selected by rotary switch or software control (optional), with lowpass Bessel filter, sensitivity monitor: +1 V...+7 V, 1V/switch position; DISPLAY: X.XX µA.

CURRENT SIGNAL PROCESSING:
Transient compensation unit (TEC-10CX): three overlapping time ranges (max: T1 = 3.3 ms, T2 = 330 µs, T3 = 33 µs), time contants set with ten-turn controls, amplitudes set with one-turn linear controls, leakage compensation max. 1 µA.

CURRENT OUTPUT FILTERS:
Two-pole (TEC-03X, TEC-05X, standard) or four-pole (TEC-03X-BF and TEC-05X-BF and TEC-10CX) lowpass Bessel filter with 16 corner frequencies, 20 Hz - 20 kHz; frequency monitor: -8 V...+7 V, 1 V/switch position, software assessable (optional).

CURRENT CLAMP (standard headstage):
Inputs: 1 µA/V, 0.1 µA/V with ON/OFF switches (TEC-05X, TEC-10CX), input resistance >100 kOhm: HOLD: X.XX nA, ten-turn digital control with -/0/+ switch, maximum 10 µA; BRIDGE balance (optional, TEC-05X systems): max. 10 MOhm or max. 100 MOhm (switch selected) with ten-turn digital control.
Speed of response (1% settling time; potential output signals after application of square pulses of 1 V with 1 MOhm electrode resistance): potential electrode <10 µs.

VOLTAGE CLAMP:
Inputs: :10 mV and :40 mV (TEC-05X, TEC-10CX) with ON/OFF switches, input resistance >100 kOhm; HOLD: XXX mV, ten-turn digital control with +/0/- switch, maximum 1000 mV; RISE TIME LIMIT: 0 - 0.2 ms; GAIN: 10 µA/V - 10000 µA/V, ten-turn linear control; INTEGRATOR TIME CONSTANT: 200 µs - 2 ms, ten-turn control (TEC-03X) or control with ON/OFF switch (TEC-05X, TEC-10CX) ; OUTPUT CURRENT LIMIT5 (TEC-10CX): 0 - 100%, linear control;
TEC 03 Modes: NORMAL (gain only), FAST (series resistance compensation) and SLOW (integration unit is active).

SPEED of RESPONSE (VC Mode):
1% settling time: <80 µs for 10 mV step and <100 µs for 100 mV step applied to cell model (Re = 1 MOhm, Rm = 100 kOhm, Cm = 0.1 µF, standard headstage); <80 µs with 225 V headstage.

POWER REQUIREMENTS:
115 V/230 V AC, 60 W (1.25 A/0.63 A fuse, SLOW).

DIMENSIONS:
19" rackmount cabinet, 19" (483 mm) wide, 14" (355 mm) deep, 5.25"(132.5 mm) high, weight 11kg.

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All amplifiers are delivered with two headstages, connector cables, ground plugs and a user manual.

npi also offers a complete setup (without microscope and table), TEC-OOCYTE, for recording in oocytes. Look to the right for a short description.

Standard voltage range is ±150 V. Other voltage ranges (±15 V, ±45 V, ±225 V) are available on request.

Below are options and additional accessories (at additional costs). Customized configurations are possible, please contact us.

TEC-OOCYTE
Complete oocyte system The system consists of a TEC-03CW, CellWorks, IGOR Pro, a valve bench CW-VM-8PG, two Märzhäuser MM33 with tilting device, a MS_OPC recording chamber, pipette holders and tubing.

TEC-03X
Standard TEC-03 system

TEC-03X-BF
TEC-03 system with four-pole Bessel filters

TEC-03X-CW
TEC-03 system with built-in interface for CellWorks
Provides analog in- and outputs and a plug for connecting a valve manifold (See also DATA ACQUISITION in the PRODUCTS menu)

TEC-05X
Standard TEC-05 system

TEC-05X-BF
TEC-05 system with four-pole Bessel filters

TEC-05X-B
TEC-05 system with bridge mode A bridge circuit connected to the potential headstage allows current clamp measurementswith only one electrode impaled.

TEC-05X-CC
TEC-05 system with capacity compensation Capacity comensation for the current electrode

TEC-05X-DHC
TEC-05 system with DHC mode
Equipped with DHC mode for recording conductances after action potenials (Ref.: Dietrich et al. (2002), J. Neurosci Meth., 116, 55-63)

TEC-10CX
Standard TEC-10 system

TEC-10CX-CW
TEC-10 system with built-in interface for CellWorks
Provides analog in- and outputs and a plug for connecting a valve manifold (See also DATA ACQUISITION in the PRODUCTS menu)

TEC-SLOW
TEC system with VCcCC mode
SEC system with VCcCC mode for current clamp recordings at defined holding potentials (Ref.: Sutor et al. (2003), Pflügers Arch., in press)

TEC-RS-D
TEC system with series resistance measurement Desktop cabinet

TEC-RS-R
TEC system with series resistance measurement
19" rackmount cabinet

TEC-MOD
Cell modell
passive

TEC-MODA
Cell modell
active

TEC-EH
Electrode holder set, BNC
Electrode holder for potential- and current electrode, electrode holder adapter for current electrode