Dual-superfusion of submerged slices increases the vitality of cells, since e.g. oxygen as well as other materials from both sides can freely and more effectively diffuse into the thick slices. In the most widely used slice chambers, where the slices are sitting on a glass coverslip, the oxygenation and the drug diffusion is achieved only from one side.

We invented a chamber insert where slices are sitting on a mesh and the shape of the insert supports laminar flow around the submerged slices ensuring the better oxygenation of slices. The mesh divides the chamber into two parts. Both the upper (above the mesh), and the lower (below the mesh) parts of the chamber have got 2 mm of height. By using this type of chamber design, the flow rate of the superfused solutions could be kept as low as 3-5 ml/min, yet the oxygenation of the tissue could be maximally maintained.

We manufacture special size of circle-symmetric chamber if you need it (on the unity, list price). You should design it, and we will manufacture it according to the draft drawing. Certainly, our engineer will help you to design if you need it. There are many different kinds of chambers, heater plates, stages, and mechanical adaptors in the different labs. We do not plan to design other versions of plexiglass inserts, and mesh. We have designed only one model, what is compatible with most of the commercially available chambers. On every setups (principally) a special chamber can be designed to fit the measure of the 20 mm plexiglass inserts. The internal geometry of the hole in the middle of the new chamber always meets the outer dimensions of our assembly of plexiglass inserts with mesh. It means, that the diameter of the internal middle hole in the new chamber is always 22 mm, and the effective depth of the internal middle hole is approximately 5 mm. A new chamber must fit mechanically to your given environment. The fitting measure of the new chamber is the diameter of the hole, where you would like to put the chamber. The easiest way of design if you have the mechanical drawing of your original chamber. Please send us this drawing, and we will design the new chamber to be compatible with your original one.

Plexiglas inserts are 20 mm in outer diameter. Dual-Superfusion Slice Chamber is compatible with LN Insert Type A, for instance. The mechanical drawing of the plexiglass insert is available for download.

A description how to maintain slices in interface conditions is available for download.

A product leaflet of Dual-Superfusion Slice Chamber is available for download.

A Frequently Asked Questions file about Dual-Superfusion Slice Chamber is available for download.

Stainless steel mesh:

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One piece of plexiglass insert:

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Plexiglass inserts with stainless steel mesh:

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Tips

Based on the experience obtained in Dr. Norbert Hajos' laboratory (Hajos et al., 2009, see above), the temperature and the oxygenation of brain slices in Dual-Superfusion Slice Chamber could be controlled in two ways. Either the experiments should be done at room temperature, then only the flow rate of aCSF (Artificial CerebroSpinal Fluid) has to be set equivalently below and above the slices (e.g. using peristaltic pumps with at least three channels - two inlets and one outlet). Or, in the case, when experiments are desired to perform at higher temperature, then not only the flow rate but the temperature, as well, should be maintained as equivalent as possible below and above the slices. To achieve this, a Dual-channel In-line Solution Heater is recommended to use, where the temperature of two inlets is controlled in a single heater head to ensure the same temperature.

If you want to use the Dual-Superfusion Slice Chamber in optimal conditions, the temperature of the two independent solution flows should be controlled. For this purpose any kind of 2-channel in-line solution heater, and a compatible temperature controller should also be used (for example the appropriate products of Supertech).

On the sufrace of the stainless steel mesh the effects of some unwanted electrochemical changes can be observed after 3 month of usage. If you realize such a disturbing effect, please change the mesh in order to provide the optimal living conditions of your slices.

We offer the complete assembly "Plexiglass inserts with stainless steel mesh", and its parts independently, too. The reason, why we offer the parts, that there are many of our customers who regularly cleans the mesh, but the result of cleaning the plexiglass inserts is not sure, they are simply changed. The new plexiglass parts can be assembled together with the old, but desinfected mesh.