Classic Bilayer Cups & Chambers

The Basics

Cups and chambers from Warner Instruments are designed such that addition of equal volumes to the cis and trans sides results in a balanced solution height, thus minimizing mechanical gradients across the bilayer membrane.

Bilayer Cuvettes

Polystyrene has been a favored material for cuvettes for several years. The physical properties of this material make for a high quality membrane support. However, its poor resistance to organic solvents can lead to degradation of the aperture. Cuvettes have also been made from Delrin (acetyl resin) and many users report good membrane formation as well as easier maintenance and longer life. It should be noted, however, that Delrin cuvettes do not work equally well in all applications and with all users.

Warner Instruments now offers bilayer cups made from a new material, polysulfone. This material has many of the mechanical properties of polystyrene coupled with enhanced solvent resistance. The choice of material will depend on your application.

All cuvettes have a 0.5 mm well milled into their base to confine the motion of stirbars and to reduce mechanical noise artifacts. A 2 x 5 mm or 2 x 7 mm PTFE-coated stirbar is supplied with each cuvette.

Standard available aperture diameters are 150, 200 or 250 µm. Contact our offices for custom aperture sizes from 50 µm to 1 mm. The wall thickness at the aperture is 250 µm.

Bilayer Chambers

Chambers are made from black Delrin and also have a 0.5 mm recessed well milled into the floor of the non-cup side to confine the motion of stirbars and to reduce mechanical noise artifacts. A 2 x 5 mm or 2 x 7 mm PTFE-coated stirbar is supplied with each chamber.

Polyethylene centrifuge tubes (supplied) serve as intermediate wells for electrical connections between the headstage electrodes and the cup or chamber. Chambers include a nylon screw and rubber plug to secure the cups during use. The classic model has a polycarbonate window for viewing the aperture during membrane formation.

Classic Models BCH-M13 and BCH-M22

Two classic models are offered: The BCH-M13 is a small volume chamber (1.2 ml) with a 13 mm (1/2") diameter cuvette. The BCH-M22 is a larger volume chamber with (5.0 ml) chamber with a 22 mm (7/8") diameter cuvette.