Applied Biophysics ECIS Real Time
Cell Growth Monitoring
ECIS Model 800E (Education)
The ECIS Model 800E has been designed
specifically as an educational unit. This instrument is intended for hands-on,
advanced undergraduate and graduate laboratory courses in tissue culture, cell
biology, advanced biological methods or biotechnology. Students can be exposed
to a variety of cell-based assays including measurements of in vitro toxicology,
cell migration, cell-ECM interactions, extravasation of normal cell layers by
cancer cells and signal transduction.
The impedance of small active electrodes in each well is measured in real time
to record cell activity and response to agents. This instrument monitors the
simple (rather than complex) impedance at one fixed frequency where impedance
changes due to the presence of the cells are readily detected. In addition to
monitoring cells non-invasively, this instrument is equipped with the Elevated
Field Module allowing the performance of automated wound-healing (cell
migration) assays [PNAS 101: 1554-1559 (2004)] and experiments involving
electroporation of membrane-impermeable compounds.
The electronics are consolidated in a single case that sits beside a tissue
culture incubator. One lead connects the electronics to an electrode array
holder within the incubator space – this, in turn, makes contact with a single
consumable array. A USB cable provides communication to a PC that controls all
data acquisition, storage and analysis. In addition to the ECIS electronics and
software, the system is supplied with a state-of-the-art laptop PC, an initial
supply of electrode arrays, as well as an ECIS workbook with 5 cell-based
exercises for biology students to start learning cell impedance measurements.
The user-friendly ECIS software runs on a Windows XP Profession platform for all
operations. In addition to using the ECIS analysis and plotting programs, one
can readily convert data to text files for export to other data analysis
systems.
Specifications
Maximum number of wells:
8
Frequency range: fixed - 15kHz
Operating System: Windows XP Professional
System Controller: Laptop PC
Front Panel Controls: Power on/off
Front Panel Indicators: Power, Measurement in Progress, Wounding/Electroporation
Mode Activated
PC to 800 communications: USB
Power: 120-240 VAC 50/60Hz
Dimensions: 13 x 4.5 x 13 inches (WxHxD)
Weight: 6 lbs
System includes: single slot array holder, laptop PC, Elevated Field
Module with fixed wounding & electroporation parameters
Array Holder dimensions: 5.5 x 1.5 x 6.0 inches (WxHxD)
Array Holder material: Lexan ® polycarbonate
Array holder to instrument cable length: 4.5 ft (a port in the incubator
is desirable; 5/8 inch diameter minimum)
