BASi Calibration Station

The MD-1522 or MD-1524 Calibration Station facilitates preparation and in vitro calibration of one or two BR or MBR probes (respectively). Probe clamps provided with the station may also be used with the optional clamp rod for stereotaxic insertion of probes or intracerebral guides. Standard plastic vials fit into holes on top of the Station. Vial contents are visible from the front of the station. Stainless steel pins position the probe clamps so that probes are centered and can not touch the sides of the vial while a loaded clamp is inserted or removed from the Station. These pins intentionally provide a loose fit for easy removal of clamps. Removing air bubbles trapped in the probe is also considerably easier when using a Calibration Station; pick up the entire block and rap it on a bench-top. T he probes will be safe while the bubble is dislodged.

“Transit” position holes on the Station hold either a wetted probe BR or MBR probe just prior to insertion into an intracerebral guide on the skull of a conscious animal. This temporary position relieves the need for a third hand.

Probes are placed in the Station during wetting or calibration. For BR probes, longer storage should be done in the original shipping vial, which protects against evaporation of the wetting fluid. For longer storage of MBR probes you may poke a hole in the top of a microfuge vial using 22 gauge needle and insert the probe (including the smaller diameter part of the probe body) into the hole. Once wetted, all probes must be kept wet or pores in the membrane hydrogel will collapse and the membrane will no longer be viable for dialysis. If bacterial contamination is a concern between probe uses, add some ProClin150™ to the storage solution.

Calibration Stations include either two BR or two MBR style probe clamps. One clamp of each style is shown above for illustrative purposes.

Probe Clamp and Rod

These special accessories are required to implant a BR style probe or its intracerebral guide on the skull. The clamp  rod attaches to a Kopf, Stoelting, or ASI stereotaxic frame. The probe clamp mounts on the end of this rod using a simple thumbscrew. The head of either the probe or guide cannula slides into the clamp and is secured when another thumbscrew tightens the clamp.

Two probe clamps are provided as part of the Calibration Station. The addition of the probe rod completes the specialized hardware required to implant BR probes or their guides.

The probe clamp  grips  the  guide cannula when  stereotaxically implanting an intracerebral (IC) guide cannula. The clamp also holds a probe in the same manner during microdialysis studies in anesthetized animals.

Ordering Information

 

MD-1522	Calibration Station with 2 MD-1520 BR Style Probe Clamps
MD-1520	Probe Clamp for BR Probes, each
MD-1521	Clamp Rod for Kopf, Stoelting, or ASI Stereotaxic Frame, each
MD-1523	Probe Clamp for MBR Probes, each
MD-1524	Calibration Station with 2 MD-1523 MBR Style Probe Clamps
CF-2150	ProClin150™ Preservative, 100 mL
Inquire	Clamp Rod for other Stereotaxic Frames

 

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