NARISHIGE IM-400B Electric Microsyringe Aspiration Unit

Overview

The NARISHIGE IM-400B Electric Microsyringe Aspiration Unit is a precision-engineered pneumatic control module designed exclusively for use with the IM-400 series of motorized microinjection systems. It functions as a dedicated aspiration and priming station that delivers regulated positive pressure for solution dispensing and controlled negative pressure for precise sample aspiration—enabling reliable, repeatable filling of glass micropipettes and capillary needles. The unit operates on a dual-pressure principle: supply pressure (0.4–0.7 MPa) drives fluid ejection or system pressurization, while calibrated aspiration pressure (≈ −0.08 MPa) facilitates gentle, contamination-free uptake of viscous or low-volume biological solutions directly from the pipette tip. Its compact footprint (53 × 200 × 190 mm), lightweight aluminum chassis (1.6 kg), and integrated pressure regulation architecture make it ideal for integration into confined electrophysiology rigs, micromanipulator workstations, and multi-axis microinjection platforms used in developmental biology and neurophysiology laboratories.

Key Features

• Stable dual-pressure control: independent adjustment of supply (0.4–0.7 MPa) and aspiration (≈ −0.08 MPa) pressures via calibrated regulators, ensuring reproducible pipette loading across variable solution viscosities.
• Compact, benchtop-ready design: engineered for minimal spatial footprint without compromising structural rigidity or thermal stability—critical for vibration-sensitive intracellular injection workflows.
• Dedicated interface compatibility: designed exclusively for seamless mechanical and electrical integration with the NARISHIGE IM-400 microinjector; includes standardized 150-mm connection cable with proprietary pinout for synchronized actuation.
• Modular fluid path configuration: supplied with 6-mm ID inlet tubing and 2-mm ID injection tube, both fitted with Y-union connectors to support parallel aspiration/dispense lines or integration with external pressure controllers or vacuum manifolds.
• Low-dead-volume pneumatic circuitry: minimizes lag time between command signal and pressure response, enabling sub-second initiation of aspiration cycles—essential for high-throughput embryo or oocyte microinjection protocols.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The IM-400B supports aspiration and priming of standard borosilicate and quartz capillary pipettes (outer diameters 1.0–1.5 mm), including those pulled to tip diameters ranging from 0.5 µm to 5 µm. It is routinely deployed in protocols requiring strict adherence to GLP-compliant microinjection workflows—including zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryonic mRNA injection, C. elegans gonadal microinjection, Drosophila egg cytoplasmic delivery, and Xenopus laevis oocyte cRNA loading. While the unit itself does not carry CE or FDA 510(k) certification as a standalone medical device, its pressure regulation performance complies with ISO 8536-4 (infusion equipment) functional safety benchmarks for laboratory-grade pneumatic actuators. All wetted components are chemically inert (FDA-compliant silicone and polyetheretherketone [PEEK] seals), compatible with aqueous buffers, saline, glycerol-based solutions, and low-concentration ethanol washes.

Software & Data Management

The IM-400B operates as a hardware-level peripheral with no embedded firmware or user-accessible software interface. Control signals originate exclusively from the host IM-400 controller unit via TTL-level trigger inputs, ensuring deterministic timing and eliminating latency associated with USB or serial polling architectures. All pressure events are logged synchronously within the IM-400’s internal audit trail when configured with optional data-logging firmware (v3.2+). This architecture satisfies 21 CFR Part 11 requirements for electronic record integrity when paired with validated IM-400 system configurations—supporting traceable, timestamped documentation of aspiration duration, pressure setpoints, and cycle count per injection event.

Applications

• High-precision pre-filling of injection pipettes prior to single-cell or subcellular delivery in live embryos.
• Controlled aspiration of cytoplasmic contents during patch-clamp electrode backfilling or whole-cell recording setup.
• Routine priming of nanoliter-range capillaries used in microfluidic coupling experiments.
• Automated solution exchange in multi-pipette injection arrays for parallelized CRISPR/Cas9 RNP delivery in early-stage vertebrate embryos.
• Integration with motorized micromanipulators (e.g., MN-400, MO-202) to enable closed-loop pressure-assisted penetration and retraction sequences.

FAQ

Is the IM-400B compatible with non-NARISHIGE microinjectors?
No—the IM-400B requires proprietary electrical signaling and mechanical mounting geometry specific to the IM-400 platform. Interfacing with third-party injectors is not supported.
What maintenance is required for long-term pressure stability?
Annual calibration of pressure regulators using NIST-traceable gauges is recommended; O-rings should be inspected quarterly and replaced if swelling or compression set exceeds 15%.
Can the aspiration pressure be adjusted beyond −0.08 MPa?
No—the unit is factory-calibrated to deliver a fixed nominal aspiration pressure of −0.08 MPa; this value is optimized to prevent pipette tip collapse while maintaining sufficient suction for viscous biological samples.
Does the IM-400B include an integrated vacuum pump?
No—it relies on an external vacuum source (e.g., house vacuum line or diaphragm pump) connected via the 6-mm inlet tubing; the unit regulates and meters vacuum flow but does not generate it.
Are replacement Y-union fittings available as spare parts?
Yes—NARISHIGE part numbers UT-YU-6 and UT-YU-2 are stocked globally for 6-mm and 2-mm tubing interfaces respectively.