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Related Concept Videos

Patch Clamp

Patch Clamp

Many fundamental cell functions such as muscle contraction and nerve transmission rely on the electrical signals produced by the movement of positively and negatively charged ions across the cell membrane. One competent method to record current flowing across the whole cell or single ion channel is the patch-clamp technique.
In this method, a glass micropipette containing electrolyte solution is tightly sealed against a small portion of the cell membrane. As a result, a patch of the cell...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Application of Automated Image-guided Patch Clamp for the Study of Neurons in Brain Slices

Application of Automated Image-guided Patch Clamp for the Study of Neurons in Brain Slices

Published on: July 31, 2017

Progress in automating patch clamp cellular physiology.

Luca A Annecchino¹, Simon R Schultz¹

¹Centre for Neurotechnology and Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Brain and Neuroscience Advances

|March 14, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Automated patch clamp technology has advanced significantly, moving from basic cell suspension assays to sophisticated in vivo systems. Robotic automation is key to overcoming the challenges of in vivo patch clamp electrophysiology for broader research applications.

Keywords:

Automated electrophysiology neuroscience patch clamp robotic automation

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Application of Automated Image-guided Patch Clamp for the Study of Neurons in Brain Slices

Application of Automated Image-guided Patch Clamp for the Study of Neurons in Brain Slices

Published on: July 31, 2017

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

Published on: June 9, 2014

A Computer-assisted Multi-electrode Patch-clamp System

A Computer-assisted Multi-electrode Patch-clamp System

Published on: October 18, 2013

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Biomedical Engineering
Electrophysiology

Background:

Patch clamp electrophysiology is a vital technique in life sciences research.
Early automated patch clamp platforms improved throughput but were limited to cell suspension assays, lacking biological relevance.
In vivo patch clamp electrophysiology offers greater biological complexity but is technically challenging, limiting its widespread adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the evolution of automated patch clamp technology.
To highlight the potential of in vivo automated patch clamp for neuroscience and drug discovery.
To discuss the role of robotic automation in advancing in vivo electrophysiology.

Main Methods:

Review of historical development of automated patch clamp systems.
Discussion of advancements from multi-well plates to planar-array and robotic platforms.
Focus on robotic platforms enabling two-photon targeted whole-cell recordings in vivo.

Main Results:

Automated patch clamp technology has progressed from basic to complex in vivo applications.
Robotic automation is making challenging in vivo patch clamp procedures more accessible.
Modern systems facilitate biologically relevant recordings for studying neuronal computation and disease.

Conclusions:

Automated patch clamp technology has evolved to enable more complex and biologically relevant electrophysiological recordings.
Robotic automation is crucial for overcoming the technical barriers of in vivo patch clamp electrophysiology.
Further development in automated in vivo systems promises to accelerate drug discovery and our understanding of neural mechanisms.