The BioPelle is a manual servo-hydraulic micromanipulator capable of collecting and depositing samples with single-cell precision. This device facilitates experiments which require deliberate sample positioning and collection through the inclusion of two positive-displacement volumetric controllers. The first, a coarse (100 µl rotation-1) dial, facilitates rapid clearance and refilling of the manipulation tip. The second, a fine (0.5 µl rotation-1) dial, enables accurate spatial manipulation of specimens. The standard configuration mounts to the microscope turret and aligns with the optical axis for in situ observation and collection. Custom mounting solutions are also available.
To purchase, please send an email to info@auritabio.com.
The BioPelle is designed to be a simple-to-use manipulator or small-scale 3D printer to set up or break down 3D cell culture experiments in Liquid Like Solids™ or other 3D mediums. Whether it is a spatial orientation of a tumor mass with a group of immune cells, the placement of a bolus of cytokines, or the collection of a particularly aggressive cell for downstream analysis, the BioPelle is up to the task.
When mounted to a microscope turret and aligned with the optical axis, the selected micropipette tip, needle, or capillary tube can be positioned precisely over the desired sample by using the existing stage controls on the microscope. A Luer-Lock fitting at the end of the BioPelle means a wide array of tips are available for use.
The manipulator head and volumetric controllers are fabricated from 316 stainless steel and assembled with chemically resistant Viton O-rings and a Delrin manifold frame, making the unit durable and compatible with laboratory-grade cleaning solutions and ethanol. Fluid lines are comprised of clear, gas-impermeable tubing filled with biocompatible phosphate-buffered saline. Additionally, flushing of the lines for cleaning or removing air bubbles can be completed by using the coarse dial to push fluid through the system. The length of tubing provided is long enough to isolate the controller manifold from the microscope (about 1.5 meters) to protect imaging from vibrations.
