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• There should be a soft loop on all wires from the manipulator, ideally fixed to a
point close to the manipulator mount.
• The cables can also be fixed to the Faraday cage above the manipulator, but only
if the Faraday cage is isolated from the floor.
• Make sure that all the cables are loose throughout the range of motion and
stages.
Is the drift detected with the perfusion running? (test for longer than 10 minutes)
• Perfusion solution with a temperature different to the room can lead to thermal
expansion of the pipette – leave some time for the pipette to adjust to new
temperatures.
• Fast perfusion may cause drift of the pipette.
• Ensure the vacuum source is strong enough to break the surface tension of the
fluid in the bath
Is the microscope firmly mounted to the table top?
• Many microscopes have rubber feet underneath. These may degenerate with
time and cause the microscope to be unstable. Ideally the microscope should be
bolted down onto the table top.
Is the cooling headstage switched off?
• Some amplifiers have a cooling facility on the headstage (which is normally
located on the amplifier front or back panel). This may lead to expansion of
the headstage and subsequent drift.
• You should allow half an hour after switching off before re-testing stability
• Recording chamber: are there any cables, wires or tubing connected to the
chamber?
• Such cables could implement an external force causing movement of the
chamber.
• When using brain slices, ensure that the harp use to hold down the slice does
so efficiently.
Check for air currents around the system ?
• Open windows or air conditioning can give rise to air currents.
• Cover the system with a sheet or plastic bag to eliminate any air currents then
test for drift.
If you are still experiencing drift difficulties after following these steps, please contact
us for further assistance.
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