Warner Instruments PLI-10 User Manual

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MMooddeell PPLLII--110

0

The PLI-10 Pico-liter Injector is designed to provide controlled delivery of picoliter to
nanoliter volumes of solution through a glass micropipette. The PLI-10 is ideal for
applications such as neuronal tract-tracing, delivery of pharmacological agents in vitro,

and Xenopus oocyte injection.

Features for the PLI-10 include

9 Low cost

2

9 Femtoliter to microliter injections

9 Digital readouts for injection pressure, time, and count

9 Reliable optically encoded circuit for injection time set

9 Easy to use

9 Same high quality pressure regulator as PLI-90 and PLI-100

THIS EQUIPMENT IS NOT DESIGNED NOR INTENDED

FOR USE ON HUMAN SUBJECTS

Warner Instruments • 1125 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514 USA

[phone] • [phone] • Fax [phone]

Rev 090714

Table of Contents

NOMENCLATURE....................................................................................................................................4

Text conventions.....................................................................................................................................4

GENERAL...................................................................................................................................................5

Instrument description...........................................................................................................................5

FRONT AND BACK PANEL CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS....................................................5

Front panel..............................................................................................................................................5

Rear panel ...............................................................................................................................................6

SETUP AND OPERATION.......................................................................................................................8

Setup........................................................................................................................................................8

Operation ................................................................................................................................................8

3

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION..............................................................................................................9

Required Auxiliary Equipment for Microinjection................................................................................9

Required Supplies..................................................................................................................................10

Optional Equipment for Microinjection...............................................................................................10

Micropipettes..........................................................................................................................................10

Distinguishing Parameters....................................................................................................................10

Choosing the Right Pipette....................................................................................................................10

General Considerations.........................................................................................................................11

Injection Pressure and Time Pulse.......................................................................................................12

Gas Usage Warning...............................................................................................................................12

Hose Connections..................................................................................................................................12

Volume Calibration Chart.....................................................................................................................13

APPENDIX................................................................................................................................................14

Specifications.........................................................................................................................................14

Ordering Information..........................................................................................................................14

Warranty and Service..........................................................................................................................15

Warranty.............................................................................................................................................15

Service................................................................................................................................................15

Certifications.........................................................................................................................................16

Warner Instruments • 1125 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514 USA

[phone] • [phone] • Fax [phone]

Rev 090714

NOMENCLATURE

Text conventions

This manual refers to instrument controls at three functional levels; control blocks, specific controls

within a block, and settings of specific controls. To minimize the potential for confusion, we have

employed several text conventions which are specified below. Since our goal is to provide clarity rather

than complexity, we welcome any feedback you may wish to provide.

4

¾ Warner Instrument product numbers are presented using

¾ References to specific controls within a block are specified using

bold type.

SMALL CAPS.

¾ Finally, references to individual control settings are specified in italic type.

¾ Special comments and warnings are presented in highlighted text.

Any other formatting should be apparent from context.

Warner Instruments • 1125 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514 USA

[phone] • [phone] • Fax [phone]

Rev 090714

5

GENERAL

Instrument description

The PLI-10 is specifically designed for solution delivery to extracellular locations in tissues and for

intracellular Xenopus oocyte injection. These ‘large volume’ injections (10 pl to greater than 100 pl) are

common for many applications that do not require multiple pressure settings. As such, the PLI-10 is an

effective, low-cost alternative to our more elaborate pressure ejection systems (e.g., the PLI-90 and PLI-

100).

Pressure to the micropipette is controlled precisely through a high-quality multi-turn regulator and is

reported digitally for reproducibility. Injection time is set using an optically encoded circuit which permits

fine and coarse settings from a single dial knob. The system trigger timer can be controlled by the front

panel push button, a foot switch, or an external trigger (TTL pulse to

TRIGGER INPUT BNC).

FRONT AND BACK PANEL CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS

Front panel

A. RESET COUNT pushbutton: Resets the injection count display to zero.

B. INJECTION COUNT display: Records and displays the total number of injections triggered (0 to

9999 injections).

C. INJECT LED: LED indicator remains lit for duration of injection period.

D. INJECTION TIME (s): Displays injection time period in seconds (0 to 99.99 s)

Warner Instruments • 1125 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514 USA

[phone] • [phone] • Fax [phone]

Rev 090714

E. INJECTION PRESSURE: Displays injection pressure in either PSI or kPa (maximum 60 PSI; 413

kPa).

F. PRESSURE UNIT toggle switch: Toggle switch controls injection pressure display unit of

measure. Injection pressure can be displayed in either pound-force per square inch (PSI) or
kilopascals (kPa).

G. PRESSURE OUTPUT (P

connects P

to injection pipette holder.

out

) connector: Pressurized gas output line. Output tubing line

out

H. MANUAL INJECTION TRIGGER: Press-button trigger delivers regulated pressure for the

digitally set period of time at the desired pressure.

I. EXTERNAL INJECTION TRIGGER INPUT BNC: This input is for electrically initiating injection

from an external trigger source. A positive TTL pulse of is required (baseline 0 V, trigger 5 V,
lasting >10 ms).

J. INJECTION TIME SETTING DIAL: This dial controls the injection time setting. Turning the dial

changes the injection time in seconds; pressing the dial in and turning changes the injection time
in fractions of a second.

K. INJECTION PRESSURE REGULATOR: This seven turn control sets the injection pressure over

the range from 0.2 to 60 PSI (1.4 to 413 kPa).

L. POWER switch: This switch turns the instrument on and off.

6

Rear panel

M. PRESSURE INPUT (P ) connector: This connector is the input for the compressed gas. 75 PSI

is the recommended input pressure; maximum input pressure is 105 PSI.

in

Warner Instruments • 1125 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514 USA

[phone] • [phone] • Fax [phone]

Rev 090714