Wire Myograph Systems
Cassic Halpern/Mulvany Style Wire Myograph
System Overview: Wire Myography Chamber
Wire myography is an in vitro technique that allows us to examine functional responses and vascular reactivity of isolated small resistance arteries. Vessels from various species, including transgenic models, and vascular beds can be examined in a variety of pathological disease states. Vessels are dissected, cleaned, and then mounted onto a channel myograph under isometric techniques. Each vessel is then normalized to determine maximum active tension development. This allows the standardization of initial experimental conditions, an important consideration when examining pharmacological differences between vessels. Learn more about Living System’s wire myograph options below.
The classic Halpern/Mulvany style wire myograph is back as a standard product available from Living Systems Instrumentation. Living System’s MYO-CH wire myograph chamber is faithful to the basic design first introduced by Living Systems Instrumentation founder, the late Professor William Halpern, and Professor Michael Mulvany in their classic 1976 Nature paper titled “Mechanical properties of vascular smooth muscle cells in situ” (Nature 260(5552): 617-619, 1976). At the same time, state-of-the-art materials, machining, and force technology have been introduced.
Living System’s wire myographs include three types of tissue supports: wire-mounts for microvessels, L-bars for large ring preparations, and a hook for working with strips. Thus, Living System’s myograph is suitable for a range of applications including force measurements in microvessel rings, large vessels such as carotid artery and aorta, airway, intestine, bladder, and many more.
Features
Modular tissue supports that allow use of wire-mount microvessel ring preparations, Large and Small L-bars for working with large and small ring preps, and a hook attachment for working with strip preparations.
Convenient integrated flow path helps achieve optimal flow pattern when bath superfusion is used.
Convenient linear position controls in all three axes for the fixed tissue support. Force transducer support features smooth up-down position control, which simplifies alignments and initial slack adjustments.
Glass coverslip chamber bottom facilitates tissue attachments, as the chamber can be illuminated from underneath. Also allows for simultaneous imaging-force studies.
Optional field stimulation electrodes available.
Small bath volume (~5 ml) and optional self-heating capability for efficient use of expensive peptides and reagents.
Precision force transducer capable of measuring forces from a few milligrams to 20 grams.
Convenient analog signal output for easy data acquisition. (MYO-SC-1)
System Overview: Transducer Signal Conditioner
The MYO-SC-1 Force Transducer Signal Conditioner is designed to convert the force measurement made by the force transducer in our MYO-CH wire myograph chamber into an analog voltage suitable for recording with an analog-to-digital converter or chart recording device.
Convenient analog signal output for easy data acquisition.
Rotary knob also serves to select force sensitivity range when pushed (2 gram, 10 gram, 20 gram).
User-friendly Auto-Zero (Tare) push button on the front panel. This makes adjusting the zero-force offset effortless.
Rotary knob for manual adjustment of the instrument offset voltage, if desired.
Myograph Packages
Single Channel
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Wire Myograph Chamber (MYO-01) with Modular Tissue Supports (MYO-CH)
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Force Transducer Signal Conditioner (MYO-SC-1)
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Power and signal output cables
Two Channel
Self-Heated
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Two Wire Myograph Chambers with Modular Tissue Supports (MYO-CH)
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Two Force Transducer Signal Conditioners (MYO-SC-1)
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Dual Bath Temperature controller (TC-09D)
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Two Thermistor temperature sensors (THRS)
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Heater, power, and signal output cables
Single Channel
Self-Heated
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Wire Myograph Chamber with Modular Tissue Supports (MYO-CH)
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Force Transducer Signal Conditioner (MYO-SC-1)
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Temperature controller (TC-09S)
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Thermistor temperature sensor (THRS)
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Heater, power, and signal output cables
Four Channel
Self-Heated
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Four Wire Myograph Chambers with Modular Tissue Supports (MYO-CH)
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Four Force Transducer Signal Conditioners (MYO-SC-1)
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Two Dual Bath Temperature controller (TC-09D)
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Four Thermistor temperature sensors (THRS)
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Heater, power, and signal output cables
Temperature Controls
Circular Heater Bath
Living System’s thermal circulating bath is an economical heating circulator that includes the immersion heater unit, water bath, and circulating pump. The unit has a small footprint and low profile. Living System’ssearched many suppliers before we arrived at this unit, which delivers solid performance and economical prices.
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||
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Reservoir Capacity Temperature Range Temperature Stability Temperature Readout Pump Inlet & Outlet Input Voltage Dimensions Shipping Weight |
6 L 5 °C over ambient to 150 °C ± 0.05 °C ºC or ºF 0.25″ FPT 120 V or 220 V, 50 or 60 Hz 8.25″ W x 14.25″ H x 14″ D 23 lbs |
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Temperature Controller for Single Chamber
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||
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Power Control Limits Accuracy Time to reach 37 ºC (from 22 ºC) Analog Output |
120 V or 220 V Ambient to 50 ºC ±1 ºC 6–10 min 10 mV/0.1 ºC |
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Temperature Controller for Dual Chamber
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||
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Power Control Limits Accuracy Time to reach 37 ºC (from 22 ºC) Analog Output |
120 V or 220 V Ambient to 50 ºC ±1 ºC 6–10 min 10 mV/0.1 ºC |
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Living System’s controllers feature unsurpassed thermoregulatory performance. A novel control algorithm results in quicker time to reach set point (6–10 min, from 22 ºC to 37 ºC). Living System’s temperature controllers now feature analog outputs that produce signals compatible with most data acquisition systems. The TC-09D has two heating controllers that can be used to regulate the bath temperature in the two baths of our CH-2 vessel chambers independently. The thermostat control can also be disabled, allowing the TC-09D to be used as a temperature monitoring and recording device (when using the analog output). Panel controls allow for regulating the bath temperature of both chambers, chamber 1 only, chamber 2 only, or monitor only (no temperature control).
The TC-09D is designed to control the bath temperature in Living System’s CH-2 dual vessel chambers under steady-state conditions, when bath superfusion is not used. This is particularly useful when you have a stagnant bath with a HEPES or MOPS buffered saline solution. The temperature controller is not able to regulate bath temperature in the presence of bath superfusion. In that case, it is preferable to use a heat exchanger in your superfusion line to warm the bath saline just before it enters the vessel bath.
The TC-09S is designed to control the bath temperature in Living System’s CH-1 single vessel chambers under steady-state conditions, when bath superfusion is not used. This is particularly useful when you have a stagnant bath with a HEPES or MOPS buffered saline solution. The temperature controller is not able to regulate bath temperature in the presence of bath superfusion. In that case, it is preferable to use a heat exchanger in your superfusion line to warm the bath saline just before it enters the vessel bath.
Thermistor Temperature Meter
This meter provides a display of the temperature sensed by any of our thermistor temperature sensors. The THS-TEE sensor plugs directly into the TH-M meter. If you would like to monitor the temperature in one of our vessel baths using the THRS sensor a special cable is also required.
Accessories
pH Meter & Electrode
pH Meter
This high quality pH meter provides a continuous readout of pH. The pH electrode connects to the meter via a BNC connector. Use with PH-E or PH-TEE electrodes.
pH Miniature Electrode
This miniature pH electrode allows continuous pH monitoring in the bath solution of our vessel chambers. The PH-E is designed to fit inside the accessory port on the top of our standard vessel chamber covers. Reference solution is included.
Standard BNC termination; connects with most pH meters (see PH-M).
pH Miniature Electrode
This miniature pH electrode allows continuous pH monitoring in the bath solution of our vessel chambers. The PH-E is designed to fit inside the accessory port on the top of our standard vessel chamber covers. Reference solution is included.
Standard BNC termination; connects with most pH meters (see PH-M).
| Meter | ||||||||||||||
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pH Range Power Dimensions/ weight |
0–14, 0.01 resolution 3 AAA batteries 6.1″ H x 1.8″ W x 1.4″ D / 0.3 lb |
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| Electrode | ||||||||||||||
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pH Sensitivity Response Time Dimensions |
0-14 5–15 sec solution and electrode: 3 mM KCl & Ag/AgCl tip:~1.2 mm diameter body: 2.5 mm diameter length: 26 mm |
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| Electrode | ||||||||||||||
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pH Sensitivity Response Time Dimensions |
0-14 5–15 sec solution and electrode: 3 mM KCl & Ag/AgCl 40 mm x 60 mm (excluding 2 m cable) |
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Stimulators
Features:
Force Transducer Calibration Kit
This handy weight kit includes small masses that are useful for calibrating force transducers, such as the one in Living System’s wire myograph chamber.
The kit includes the following items:
- 1 gram weight
- 2 gram weight
- 5 gram weight
- 10 gram weight
- 20 gram weight
Each calibration weight has a thread loop attached, for easy hanging on the force transducer. Hanging hooks in two sizes are included
Accessory Kit for Wire Myograph
This kit is included when you purchase a Wire Myograph Chamber. You can always re-order this kit anytime as it’s a convenient way to have an assortment of commonly used accessories.
The kit includes the following items:
- ACC-BALL-DRIVER-.050 0.050″ Ball Driver Tool (qty 1)
- ACC-BALL-DRIVER-1/16 1/16″ Ball Driver Tool (qty 1)
- ACC-DRIVER-.035 0.035″ Hex Driver Tool (qty 1)
- ACC-SCREWDRIVER-#1 #1 Phillips Screwdriver (qty 1)
- ACC-DRIVER-T5 T5 Torx Driver Tool (qty 1)
- COVER-SLIP-#1 (qty 10)
- Force Transducer Calibration Weights and Calibration Stand (1 each: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 grams)
- Glass Inflow and Outflow Tubes for Myograph chamber (qty 2 total)
- 3/32″ Tygon tubing (1 ft.)
- 3-way stopcocks (qty 2)
- Wire for mounting microvessels (1 ft. each: 15 um, 20 um, 25 um, 30 um)
Wire Myograph Vessel Holders
Publications & Articles
Application Note: Measuring Coronary Flow Reserve
System Used: Doppler Flow Velocity System M-Series View Paper Here Background Coronary flow
Science Corner: Doppler Flow Velocity Imaging at Dr. Olgin’s Research Lab
Doppler Flow Velocity Imaging at Dr. Olgin’s Research Lab Dr. Jeff Olgin. “Dr.
Article review: “Effects of Isoflurane on Coronary Blood Flow Velocity in Young, Old, and ApoE−/− Mice Measured by Doppler Ultrasound”
Article review: “Effects of Isoflurane on Coronary Blood Flow Velocity in Young, Old,