3Brain BioCAM X, Руководство пользователя

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BioChip handling and use
BioChips are low-power active electronic circuits and it is highly recommended to avoid the following
operations that might result in a damaging of their electronics:
• Do not touch the contact pads of the BioChip. Electrostatic charges might damage the on-chip
circuits and might result in damaging the device. Always manipulate the BioChip by holding it on the
sides and ideally by using plastic gloves.
• Do not hold the BioChip by its glass ring to avoid detaching it.
• Do not touch the active area of the BioChips with any tools except those specifically allowed (see
“Cleaning procedure for BioChips” ). In particular, hard or semi-hard objects (e.g. metal or plastic tools)
can irreparably damage the electrodes and the on-chip circuits.
• For cleaning or for sterilization avoid immersing the entire BioChip in water or ethanol. Prolonged
immersion in water of the entire BioChip might cause oxidation of the contact pads. In ethanol, some
parts of the BioChip might be deteriorated. As a general rule only the chamber can be wet while the
rest of the chip should stay dry.
• Do not place the BioChips in autoclaves, ovens or under UV-light exposure for sterilization. These
methods might deteriorate the CMOS devices, resulting in malfunctioning or in reduced lifetime. For
the BioChip sterilization, please refer to the
“Sterilization procedure for BioChips” .
• Maintain the pH of the electrophysiological solutions used for neuronal cultures or brain tissues pos-
sibly at physiological conditions (7-7.5). Important changes in the pH of the solution might damage the
electrodes.
During recordings (both cultures and brain tissues) users have to comply with the following precautions:
• Before contacting the BioChip into the BioCam, clean the metal pad contacts with a tissue paper
soaked with ethanol 96% and let it dry for few seconds.
• Avoid liquids to spill out and strictly avoid liquids to enter in contact with the pads (the BioCAM sys -
tem is equipped with a Bay Barrier to protect the connecting socket). In case users experience liquid
spill out, follows instructions provided in the “BioCAM X handling and use” section.
In order to ensure a good quality of the recordings:
• Avoid using HEPES (4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid) in the solutions used for
electrophysiological recordings, since we observed that it can interfere with the electrodes making
the chip unstable and the recordings very noisy.
• BioChips are light-sensitive devices and their performances might be affected by a too high intensity
direct exposure or by noisy light sources.