ibidi pump system

For long term unidirectional flow assays

Instructions (PDF, 2.5 MB)
Software Manual (PDF, 1 MB)
PumpControl - software
How to find your pumping system

• unidirectional, continuous flow
  
• fluidic unit placed directly in the incubator
  
• oscillating flow possible
  
• compatible with heating stage
  
• small volume/circular system
  
• easily compatible with microscopy
  
• minimal mechanical stress on suspended cells
  
• up to four parallel fluidic units per air pump
  
• fully controllable via PC
  

ibidi‘s perfusion system consists of two main units: a control and a fluidic unit. The control unit is a „computer controlled“ air pump which can produce pressure ranging from -100 to 100mbar with +/- 1 mbar accuracy. Due to the fact that the flow is generated via air pressure, the mechanical stress on the suspended cells is minimized. The system is delivered with a computer and the required software. The software is a convenient and flexible tool to control the pressure and therefore the shear rate. The open architecture with the Luer connectors allows the use of any kind of flow devices.

The fluidic unit contains the reservoir holder with two containers for the cell media, a slide holder and all required tubes for connecting reservoirs and µ-Slides. The unit is complemented by a set of valves which generates uni-directional flow. Different perfusion sets allow varying the flow rates as well as easy handling while placing the fluidic unit on the microscope stage

          

The control unit is connected to the fluidic unit by a thin, low-voltage electric cable and a tube for transducing the air pressure which drives the flow. The air tube and the electric cable can be mounted into the incubator either through a hole in the back wall, or alternatively through the front door seal.

Separation of the fluidic and the control unit gives two major advantages. First, the construction of the system allows an easy experimental setup under sterile conditions (inside a flow hood). Secondly, the system can be separated without losing sterility. This makes the system ideal for live cell imaging as it allows placement on the microscope stage, while still being connected to the fluidic unit, so the cells can be imaged during ongoing flow experiments.

Applications

• rolling and adhesion experiments of suspended cells or particles to cell monolayers or coated surfaces
  
• cell culture under defined shear stress and shear rates
  
• blood cell – endothelial cell interaction under perfusion conditions
  
• enrichment of metabolic products as soluble factors
  

    

Advantages

• fluidic unit can be placed into the incubator while the control unit is outside the incubator
  
• fluidic unit and control unit can be separated without loosing sterility. Makes preparation and live observation on the microscope easy
  
• compatibility with all incubators
  
• minimized mechanical stress on suspended cells such as monocytes
  
• unidirectional flow using small amounts of reagents
  
• easy handling with disposable flow chambers and Luer connectors
  
• fully compatible with ibidi heating stage