Temperature Control

Warner Instruments - heated platforms, inline heaters, controllers, heated syringes

Cell Micro Controls - bipolar controller, transparent heaters, inline heaters, Peltier heating/cooling module

Recording Chambers - closed and open baths for a large variety of experiments

Bath Perfusion - tubing, valves, manifolds, constant flow syringes, perfusion steppers

Heated Chamber Platforms

For all of Warner Instruments Series 20 Chambers, heated platforms are available. The anodised aluminium platform provides good heat distribution to the chamber, while being itself thermally insulated from the microscope stage by a plastic stage adaptor.

• Cable assemblies for heated platforms include two thermistors (for platform and bath)
• Non-heated platforms can be upgraded with an add-on heater kit
• For details of chambers and stage adaptors, please see our Recording Chambers page
• For temperature controllers, please see below

Warner SH-27B Inline Solution Heater

SH-Series inline solution heaters are used to warm solutions as they flow into a chamber. Their small size allows for placement close to the chamber input allowing the perfusate to be warmed immediately prior to entry.

• The SH-27B is ideal for rapid flow systems, up to 10 ml/min
• The SH-28 is recommended for flow rates up to 2 ml/min
• Both models include an internal thermistor, plus thermistor-cable assembly for monitoring at a point of interest
• Input and output connections are PE-160 tubing (see the Bath Perfusion page)

Warner Temperature Controllers

Two Models of Temperature Controller from Warner Instruments, designed to operate Heater Platforms for Series 20 chambers, or the SH-27B/28 Inline Solution Heaters.

• Simple operation: single setpoint for temperature gives (typically) 0.1 ºC accuracy
• Dual thermistor readout: one for the controlled device, plus extra thermistor in bath
• Electrically quiet for sensitive recording situations
• Available in single channel (TC-324B) and dual channel (TC-344B) models
• May also be used to power other heaters (delivering up to 18 W into 8 ohms

Syringe Heaters

Two models of syringe heater, for warming syringes used as perfusion reservoirs. As well as delivering warmed solution, these heaters will also ensure degassing of the perfusate.

• Models for 5 ml (SW-5) and 60 ml (SW-60) syringes
• Anodised aluminium body is corrosion resistant
• May be powered by 12V battery/supply, via optional PI-1 Power Interface
• May be powered by SW-707 Syringe Power Controller, operating up to 6 or 8 syringes
• Warner Temperature Controllers (above) may also be used for power

TC2bip Bipolar Temperature Controller

The TC2bip Temperature Controller from Cell Micro Controls is a sophisticated 2 channel controller (for accurate control of pre-heated/cooled solution) with a bipolar output capable of driving resistive heaters and 12V Peltier devices (for cooling & heating). With proper adjustment of the control parameters the temperature across a 6x15mm area in the bath can be regulated within <+/-1ºC for flow rates of zero to 2ml/min.

• Battery powered to eliminate electrical interference
• Flexible controller, many control options
• Controls temperature accurately for wide range of flow rates
• Variety of heaters for different applications, compatible with wide resistance range
• For conventional and inverted microscopes
• External input for programmed temperature changes
• Optional add-on 3rd channel available

Transparent Heaters

The HI-25, HI-25T and HI-24T Transparent Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) heaters are intended for microscopy and/or patch clamping applications. ITO is a transparent surface coating that is highly electrically conductive. The coating is on the non-tissue side of the glass. The heaters can be used for studies of acutely isolated cells or for cultured cells where slides can be placed in a chamber where the heater forms the bottom. These heaters are very thin but with an epoxy frame edge cracking is much reduced and strength is significantly increased.

• HI-25 is 22 x 50 mm (can be cut shorter) x 0.25 mm thick
• HI-25T is similar but 0.12 mm thick, ideal for fluorescence studies
• HI-24T is 22 x 40 mm x 0.12 mm thick
• HI-55D is 50 x 50 mm and 0.6 mm thick, ideal for heating small culture dishes
• A range of appropriate machined baths are available

Foil Heaters

A range of foil heaters for Cell Micro Controls, all compatible with the TC2bip Controller, or available with plain 4 mm plugs for use with your own power supply.

• HLS-1P is an objective heater, for wrapping an objective. It is 70 mm x 20 mm and plugs into the optional 3rd channel of the TC2bip Controller

• HC-1 is a concentric foil heater, 40 mm outer diameter with an aperture 24 mm in diameter. It is ideal for heating 30 mm culture dishes using an upright or inverted microscope

• Plain heating foils of 50 x 50 mm, 80 x 80 mm, and 250 x 120 mm are also available

Inline Solution Pre-heaters

Two models of inline solution pre-heaters from Cell Micro Controls. Both are compatible with the TC2bip Controller, and include a thermistor for control. A separate thermistor for monitoring actual bath temperature is also available (Models TH-1, TH-2Km and TH-10Km).

• HPRE is a single channel inline heater suitable for flow rates from 0 to 4.5 ml/min. It is only 45 x 14 x 7 mm, so can be located very close to the tissue bath

• MPRE8 is an 8-channel heater in which 8 tubes merge at the tip, allowing one or more of 8 solutions to be delivered at an appropriate temperature. The MPRE8 is 100 mm long x 3 mm diameter, and is suitable for flow rates up to 1 ml/min

CH Peltier Module

The CH Module is a self-contained Peltier cooling (heating) device for small experimental preparations. It is operated off 12Volts DC @ 2.5Amp; this eliminates 50Hz interference. Unlike conventional cooling/heating systems, our CH Module has no cumbersome water jacket. Instead, the Peltier element is cooled by a fan mounted on a heatsink (the fan can be mounted separately from the heatsink to eliminate any problems caused by vibration). To maximize working space on the microscope stage the entire CH Module is placed at a distance; a slender heatpipe transports heat between the microscope stage and the CH Module. The surface of the heatpipe can be used to pre-cool (or heat) inflowing solutions and/or may be attached to a metal plate which in turn cools the experimental chamber.

mTC micro-Temperature Controller

The mTC micro-Temperature Controller is a multipurpose microcomputer based temperature controller, small enough to be easily shipped along with tissue samples or cultured cells, yet powerful enough to heat small tissue baths or containers used in a laboratory. It is simple to set up a mini-incubator to hold cells, or alternatively, heat tubes on a shaker. The mTC uses a state-of-the-art low power microcomputer to provide a flexible device. There are two separate control programs held internally in non-volatile EEPROM. To modify the control algorithm revised firmware can be downloaded from a PC.

• Battery operated or use with a DC plug-pack
• Small enough to be used during specimen transport or shipping
• Logs the actual temperature at user selectable intervals (10 min - 2 hrs)
• Use for small animal warming using a large foil heater (eg. HS-105P, 250 x 120 mm)
• Can also operate a Peltier cooling module, eg. for oocyte holding