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Patch Clamp Technique single structures of the patch clamp set for a brief description! petri dish with adherent tissue culture cells inverse Microscope to trace cell and pipet with high resolution micromanipulator control of pipet movement by joysticks (not shown) pipet holderwith patch clamp pipet pipet to cell surface pipet is approaching cell of interest forthcoming contact of the pipet tip with the cell surface can be monitored with the oscilloscope oscilloscope monitor current time to get a "seal" - the tight contact of the pipetwith the plasma membrane - a soft suction has to be applied apply suction in the patch pipet causes deformation of the cell membrane and the building of a seal start experiments now we're ready for investigations! ion channels in the cell membrane can be investigated in several modi cell attached whole cell inside out outside out pipet and cell membrane remain in the configuration shown below in the intracellular compartment all proteins are in their natural environment suction inside the pipet causes the cell membrane to burst in electrophysiological measurements ion channels of the whole cell membrane are recorded the pipet is carefully drawn away from the cell membrane the cytoplasmatic surface of the cell is now exponated to the medium - few ion channels can be investigated in whole cell configuration the membrane is torn away from the cell the membrane in the pipet will close - the outside of the membrane is exponated to the medium