Introduction
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Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Introduction
The MultiClamp 700A is a computer-controlled microelectrode current and voltage
clamp amplifier for electrophysiology and electrochemistry. It is a versatile instrument
capable of single-channel and whole-cell voltage clamping, current clamping, ion-
selective electrode recording, voltammetry and amperommetry.
The design of the MultiClamp 700A allows it to support one or two headstages (CV-
7A), each of which contains circuitry that is virtually equivalent to an Axopatch-1D
and the “bridge” mode of an Axoclamp 2B. Each CV-7A headstage contains a current-
to-voltage converter for patch voltage clamp and a voltage follower for current clamp.
This allows the user to remotely switch between low-noise patch-clamp recording
(using the Axopatch-like headstage circuit) and true, fast current-clamp recording
(using the Axoclamp-like headstage circuit). With two headstages the MultiClamp
700A effectively provides four amplifiers in one unit.
The MultiClamp 700A is essentially an analog in/analog out instrument, like
conventional amplifiers by Axon Instruments. Thus, BNC-type input and output
connections to communicate with a digitizing interface, oscilloscope or other recording
device are no different than conventional amplifiers. The MultiClamp 700A, however,
dispenses with the usual array of front panel knobs and switches. Instead, the
instrument is operated using a control panel program, the MultiClamp Commander,
which runs on a host computer and communicates with the amplifier via a serial cable
(though USB-to-serial converters are available).