Affordable New Injector: Setup the PV850 System

[by Gabe Gonzalez]

The PV850 Injector is designed to simplify intracellular injection and a variety of other microinjection tasks. The PV850 uses regulated air pressure for injecting cells with fluid. Injected volumes range from picoliters to nanoliters. The port supplies positive pressure for high-pressure ejection maximum of 87 PSI. The PV850 Microinjector offers separate regulated compensation (back filling prevention) and ejection pressures with a precision timing circuit that switches from injection pressure to compensation pressure automatically. Timing, injection pressure and compensation pressure are adjusted independently using the intuitive touch-screen user interface. Time intervals can range from 2 seconds down to 10 ms or less, depending on the injection pressure setting. The injection pressure interval is triggered by using a foot switch, manually or a computer controlled TTL pulse. The PV850 is designed to inject very small quantities of fluids, such as drugs into cells or small organelles. Pressure injection is an especially useful alternative to electroionophoresis, since it does not mandate the use of charged ions.

Features

• Regulated compensation and injection pressure
• Pressure output: 0.3-87 PSI
• Injection can be triggered manually using the touchscreen, by foot switch or by a computer-controlled TTL pulse
• Low volume tubing assembly 

Benefits

	Intuitive user-interface for injector
	Small footprint takes up very little bench space
	Easy to navigate with touch screen and control knob
	Inject into a single cell in picoliter volumes

Setting up the PV850 Injector (Hardware Setup) 

 The system includes the following components:

• (1) PV850 Injector
• (1) Foot switch
• (1) 300753 PV850 Capillary Kit 
• (4) 1.0 mm pipette gaskets (green)
• (4) 1.2 mm pipette gaskets (black)
• (4) 1.5 mm pipette gaskets (red)
• (4) 1.65 mm pipette gaskets (white)
• (2) Sealing O-rings
• (1) Pipette handle
• (1) Pipette holder 
• (1) Tubing assembly to connect to your pressure source
• (1) Adapter tubing assembly to connect the capillary kit to the PV850
• (1) 3316 Input Kit for PicoPumps
• (1) 0.25" NPT Fitting for Nitrogen tank regulator
• (1) 10' Hard tubing
• (1) Vacuum fitting
• (1) CBL102 6’ BNC Cable 
• (1) 803130 Stereo splitter cable to connect to a computer for TTL control
• (1) AC/DC 24 V Power Adapter and cord

The first thing we need to do to setup the system is make the physical connections:

• Connect the Power Supply to the rear of the unit and plug it into a wall outlet.
• Plug the Foot Switch Connector into the Foot Switch Port on the rear panel of the controller. The Foot Switch Connector cable is labeled “Back Panel.”
  NOTE: Do not plug in the capillary kit yet.
• Power on the PV850. On power up, the startup screen appears, and the PV850 performs a self test. After the self test completes, we can plug in the different required components.
• The first connection is the input connection from your external pressure source. A 1/4” hard tubing that is included can be cut to fit. It is used for connecting your pressure source, a tank or a pressure pump. To install the hard tubing, firmly insert tubing into the quick-connect fittings on the rear of the instrument. When the tubing is inserted far enough, it engages and cannot be pulled out.
  To remove the tubing, press in on the surrounding collar while pulling the tubing out.
• Next connect the capillary holder tubing assembly.
• Slide the bare end of the Adapter Tubing Assembly through the Pipette Handle.
  Connect it to the barb of the Pipette Holder Body.
  NOTE: Be careful so that the barb does not break when attaching or removing the tubing.
• Slide the Pipette Handle over the barb and carefully screw it onto the Body of the Pipette Holder.
  NOTE: Be careful not to cross thread it.
• Place a gasket of the correct size in the cap.
  

  Gasket Color	Green	Black	Red	White
  Pipette OD	1.0 mm	1.2 mm	1.5 mm	1.65 mm

• The other end of the small tubing has a quick connector. Connect it with the blue PV850 Tubing Assembly provided. 
• Verify that the Injection Port is disabled. If not, touch the Settings area of the display to access the Settings menu and touch the Port ON button to set it to Port OFF.
• Align the easy connect Injector connector with the injector port on the front of the PV850, slide the connector securely into the port and attach it with a slight clockwise twist.
• If you wish to use a computer or pulse generator to send a TTL pulse to trigger an injection:
• Connect the Y-stereo splitter (803130) to the foot switch port on the rear of the PV850.
• Connect the CBL102 jack to one of the female ports on the Y stereo splitter.
• Plug the BNC cable into the appropriate TTL port of your pulse generator.
• Insert the blunt end of the micropipette (pulled capillary glass) into the cap through the gasket and into the body. Screw the cap in place. The screw cap and rubber gasket firmly hold the glass micropipette. 

After setting up all the physical connections, you are now ready to configure the injection settings using the intuitive touchscreen interface. In the next video we show you how to use the software interface where you can set up your injection protocols to do your microinjections. Refer to the manual for more TECHNIQUES IN MICROINJECTION.

PV850 Microinjector Setup Tip

 More Info

PV850 Microinjector