BASi Vacuum Needle Kit

This kit provides the means to collect ultrafiltrates into standard glass vials on a HoneyComb refrigerated fraction collector. The advantages to this method include:

1. automation of in vivo ultrafiltration sample collection
2. the ability to collect small volume samples with precision
3. simultaneous collection from two separate ultrafiltration probes
4. refrigeration of the collected ultrafiltrates
5. better control of applied vacuum

In vivo ultrafiltration relies on use of an ultrafiltration probe and a vacuum source to withdraw extracellular fluid from living tissue in a freely-moving subject. The fluid can't be collected at a rate exceeding the rate of its replenishment by blood vessels within the same tissue. Therefore, collection of ultrafiltrates provides more than just a fluid for analysis. It also provides an indirect indication of blood flow to a particular tissue. Timed collections of weighed ultrafiltrates can provide a useful index of blood flow to a particular tissue. This kit provides a needle designed for use with the BASi HoneyComb fraction collector. When used as described, this instrument can automatically collect ultrafiltrates into as many as 999 sealed and refrigerated vials at a preset interval ranging from 0.1 minutes to 99 hours.

 

About Ultrafiltration Probes

BASi ultrafiltration probes have model numbers which describe their construction. Take for example the models UF-1-2 and RUF-3-12. The designation UF means a standard ultrafiltration probe suitable for use with rodents, while the term RUF means a reinforced ultrafiltration probe for use in dogs, sheep and other large mammals. The numbers tell you the number of membrane loops used in the probe and the length of the membrane in each loop. For example, UF-1-2 is a standard probe with one loop of membrane that is 2 cm in total length. Because the membrane is folded into a loop, the length of the loop itself will be half the length of the membrane, in this case 1 cm. The RUF-3-12 probe is a reinforced probe with 3 loops of membrane each being 12 cm long. The loop will be 6 cm long. Ultrafiltration flow rates increase with the surface area of membrane, so the UF-1-2 probe will produce much slower flow rates than the RUF-3-12 probe.

Principles of Operation

Ultrafiltration probes have typically been used with vacutainers which provide the vacuum source needed to withdraw fluid from tissue. The vacuum needle accessory creates a mini-vacutainer every time it pierces the septum of a sealed collection vial by evacuating all of the air inside the vial. The central cannula on the needle is attached to the ultrafiltration probe, while the side cannula on the needle is attached to a vacuum source. To protect the vacuum source from contamination, a simple trap is constructed of a vacutainer, luer needles, luer connectors and tubing. Two vacuum needles may be connected to one trap and one vacuum source.

The vacuum needle is intended to be a disposable item. Use of a new needle is recommended to avoid potential problems with drug carryover during pharmacokinetic studies, or bacterial growth inside the needle between studies. Once in use, a vacuum should continue to be supplied to the needle in order to promote continuous flow through the needle. This is particularly important to avoid bacterial contamination which can influence concentrations of biomarkers (e.g. glucose, amino acids, other nutrients) in the collected samples.

Ordering Information

 

MF-7040	Vacuum Needle Starter Kit
MF-7016*	Disposable Ultrafiltration Vacuum Needle, 4 ea.
MD-1510*	Flanged Tubing Connectors, pkg of 20
MR-5087*	Silicon Tubing for Connection to Trap and Vacuum, 5m
MF-7033*	Plain Vacutainer, 10 mL
MR-2068*	Luer needle, 3 ea.
MR-4424*	Luer Connector, 3 ea.
* Included in MF-7040 Starter Kit
MF-7023	BASi Model UF-3-12 Ultrafiltration Probes, pkg of 6
MF-7025	BASi Model UF-3-8 Ultrafiltration Probes, pkg of 6
MF-7026	BASi Model UF-3-2 Ultrafiltration Probes, pkg of 6
MF-7027	BASi Model UF-1-2 Ultrafiltration Probes, pkg of 6
MF-7028	BASi Model RUF-3-12 Ultrafiltration Probes, pkg of 6
MD-1201	BASi HoneyComb: Dual-Needle, Refrigerated, Fraction Collector
MF-5270	Borosolicate Glass Sample Vials, 300 µL, 6 x 32 mm, pkg of 1000
MF-5273	Plastic Snap-Cap for MF-5270 vials, pkg. of 1000

 

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