Nanoject

We inject viruses and tracers and other agents into the brain using our Nanoject II. It's pretty much the best pressure injector ever made, which doesn't mean it isn't super frustrating.

Only use Drummond replacement tubes for injection pipettes. The diameter is crucial.

Back fill the pipette with oil. Slide the pipette onto the nanoject. You have to get it past an O-ring- you should feel pressure, push harder, and it will slip 1mm further. Then place the tip of the pipette into your solution and use the 'fill' button to suck up the solution. If it won't go up, and bubbles start coming out the back of the pipette, it means it's either clogged or your tip is too small. Cut the tip and try again. A trick is to pipette solution onto parafilm and then suck it out of the droplet that will form.

The tubes are 1.14mm O.D. x 3.5" length x .53mm I.D. **This means each 1mm of travel equals 220 microliters. The meniscus appears to be about .5mm. This gives you an idea if it's working and how much is injecting. **

Be sure to watch the meniscus of the pipette to make sure you are actually injecting.

If the plunger is bent buy a new one.

If the plunger refuses to retract as far as it should it means the home position got screwed up. To reset to the home position, push the FILL and INJECT buttons at the same time. But this will make it rapidly reset, so you'll have to remove the pipette first.

Whenever you are done with the nanoject, make sure to move the plunger to the retracted position.