Precise control for whole-cell or single-cell superfusion.

Volatiles Pressure Upgrade - 16-channel

Perfusion Pressure Upgrade

  • Faster Switching
  • Steady flow (see two graphs below)
  • Microinjecting
  • Fine microliter delivery
  • Small pipette delivery
  • Higher or lower flow rates than gravity (pressure overcomes surface tension in low flow rates)

Easy to add to any new or existing gravity perfusion system from AutoMate Scientific, any third-party manufacturer, or even homemade rigs. Connect to house air or compressor (30 to 100 psi). Does not introduce bubbles into solution; helps overcome flow problems due to bubbles.

Available in four-, eight- or sixteen-channel configurations. Syringe reservoirs may be placed in a water bath for temperature control. Elegant design allows individual control of each air line.

Oxygen8™

For a pressurized perfusion system WITH bubbles, please see our Oxygen8™ system.

Comparison of flow rate change between full and empty reservoirs under gravity and pressure

Full reservoirs always flow faster than empty ones. Researchers doing sensitive electrophysiology or imaging experiments want the flow rate to remain as consistent as possible to minimize capacitance or focus changes over time.

Assumptions in both examples: 60 ml syringe reservoirs mounted 12.5 cm above the perfusion chamber (liquid outlet) with flow constrained to approximately 1 ml/minute

  • Graph 1: Gravity only – flow rate decreases from 1 ml/min to 0.7 ml/min from full (25 cm high) to empty (12.5 cm high)
  • Graph 2: Pressurized reservoir – flow rate decreases from 1 ml/min to 0.94 ml/min from full (25 cm high) to empty (12.5 cm high)
  • Adding air pressure decreases the full-to-empty flow rate drop from 30% with gravity to 6% with air pressure for more consistent experiments.

Liquid Switching in 3-4 msec.

Pressurized Graph

“Fast flow Rhodamine B Fluorescence Switching -40ms period using the AutoMate Scientific Pressurized Perfusion System at 3 psi.”

Thile Lacoste
Materials Science Division,
Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory

Precision Components

Superfusion Components
  • Stainless steel construction
  • 5 micron filter and gauge
  • Precision regulator delivers 1-10 psi (69 kPa)
Syringe Accessories

Available with 5, 10, 35, or 60ml plastic syringe reservoirs or 35ml glass syringes as our “Volatiles Pressure Upgrade” for researchers with volatile agents in solution.