Introduction; Introducing The Epc 9 - HEKA EPC 9 Manual

1. Introduction

The patch-clamp technique was introduced by
Neher and Sakmann (1976) for recording the
currents in a small patch of membrane under
voltage-clamp conditions. In the intervening
years a number of changes have occurred, most
notably the development of the "gigaseal" by E.
Neher (1981). Various recording configurations
allow intracellular recordings to be made with
the same type of recording setup as used for
patch recording from the cell surface or cell-free
membrane patches (Hamill et al., 1981).

Introducing the EPC 9

The EPC9 represents roughly the ninth in the
series of patch-clamp designs in use in the
Göttingen laboratories. It is a logical successor to
the EPC7, retaining all of its features but adding
a number of capabilities, the most important
being implementation of full digital control of
the various functions. Thus, the new digitally
controlled EPC9 patch-clamp amplifier has no knobs, switches or dials. The Pulse
software replaces the analog controls of conventional amplifiers by using Macintosh
computers and a built-in ITC-16 interface. The convenient graphics display and
mouse operations provide unsurpassed versatility and ease of operation.
In addition to the controls for the amplifier and the built-in filters, the Pulse software
contains a powerful data acquisition system (sampling and storage in pulse, ramp
and continuous modes), a fully programmable pulse generator, and a digital
oscilloscope. Thus, the EPC9 offers all the features of a complete workstation for
controlling experiments and acquiring data. Furthermore, there is the PulseFit
software package as well as TAC (Threshold Analysis for single Channels) available,
which allow data analysis, data export, and graphics output.
The EPC9 also accepts a stimulus input and provides current monitor outputs just
like conventional amplifiers to operate in combination with a host computer running
custom and commercial software from other sources. The versatility of the EPC9 can
Introduction EPC9 Manual 5