Microprocessor controlled trituration device for the dissociation of cardiac and other tissues

The construction of an inexpensive microprocessor controlled piston/cylinder used in the dissociation of canine cardiac Purkinje fibres is described. The microprocessor, interfaced to a linear actuator, controls the motion of a piston using the higher level language "Tiny BASIC" and two machine language routines. Pressure changes generated by the piston are transferred to the lumen of a pipette. Movement of enzymatically-treated tissues through the pipette orifice facilitates dissociation into single cells. With this device, specific agitation protocols for different quantities and types of tissues are possible.