Introduction
We would be happy to take suggestions for additional sources to add to this list. Please send suggestions to crawdad@cornell.edu, including a complete address and the useful items. Conversely, if there is some supply or piece of equipment that you have trouble finding, let us know and we will add our source for it to this page.
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Equipment
In addition to the sources cited below, be sure to check our downloads page for do-it-yourself designs. Currently, we have a designs for an inexpensive extracellular amplifier and suction electrode.
| Supplier | Useful Items |
|
A-M Systems, Inc. |
Extracellular amplifiers ("Model 1700") A-M regularly has sales on these amplifiers |
|
MetricTest |
New and used (refurbished) oscilloscopes and other equipment at reasonable prices. |
|
Tucker Instruments |
Good source for less-expensive digital oscilloscopes May have used equipment at reasonable prices |
|
World Precision Instruments |
Relatively inexpensive micromanipulators, such as the Taurus or Kite (good for extracellular) and MM33 (good for intra- and extracellular). Both manipulators clamp to 12 mm diameter rods. See Enco, below, for magnetic bases and 12 mm rods to hold micromanipulators. |
Data Acquisition
We do not have a lot of experience with data acquisition systems, having relied for years on an old A/D board and custom-written software. Thus we do not have any specific recommendations. If any Crawdad users have reviewed systems or would like to contribute their comments on any of these, we would like to hear from you (crawdad@cornell.edu).
Note that data acqusition requirements for neurophysiology are not particularly stringent. All you really need is two channels of input and two channels of output, with a minimum sampling rate of 10 kHz (20 kHz is nice at times, as is 100 kHz for electric fish signals). Our advice is to preview the software as closely as possible before buying a system. If the software is overly complex or is difficult to use, you will spend a lot of time helping your students with the software and have less time to teach neurobiology!
| Supplier | Useful Items |
|
AD Instruments, Inc. |
PowerLab (formerly MacLab) A/D board and software for Macintosh and Windows. Connects by USB or SCSI. Educational discounts available. |
|
GW Instruments, Inc. |
InstruNet A/D board and software for Macintosh and Windows. PCI slot required. |
|
National Instruments, Inc. |
Large variety of acqusition boards, LabView software for Macintosh and Windows. Boards connect by PCI, USB, Firewire, or PCMCIA. |
|
WaveMetrics, Inc. |
Igor Pro. Excellent software for display and analysis of waveform data. Available for Macintosh and Windows. Extensions are available to support many of the data acquisition boards mentioned here. |
Supplies
| Supplier | Useful Items |
|
A-M Systems, Inc. |
Electrode glass
|
|
Cole-Parmer Instrument Co. |
Tubing for suction electrodes. Suitable tubing can be found at many different suppliers; this is just one that we know of. |
|
Laboratory Product Sales |
Gel-filling pipette tips (catalog L112402) for suction electrodes. These are probably available from any biological supply company; this is just the source we use. |
|
Patterson Dental Company |
Sticky blue wax, good for holding dissecting dishes etc. in place. Item 07 457-5221 Periphery wax |
|
Wolcott-Park, Inc. |
Sylgard for dissection dishes: Or check www.dowcorning.com for a local supplier. |
|
Warner Instrument Corp. |
AgCl "pellet" electrode (catalog # E242) for a long-lasting ground electrode. |
Animals
Because crayfish are used in restaurants, there are many suppliers. These are just the ones we have used or that have been recommended to us by others. Procambarus and Helix cannot be shipped into California because of agricultural regulations. However, Helix is readily found in gardens and Procambarus can be found at bait shops in California; these items may also be available from a California supplier (Niles, see below).
Note: Do not release unused crayfish or snails into the wild. Both can be invasive and may displace local species. Besides, it may be against state laws. Check with your state agriculture departmen tor other relevant agency.
There appear to be new USDA regulations regarding Helix aspersa. Some suppliers will not ship without a USDA permit, others may. The situation is unclear right now. Some info may be found at http://aphisweb.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/plantpest/snails_slugs.html.
Weakly electric fish (used in Lab 1, Membrane Properties) can be found at well-stocked pet stores, but usually in small quantities. It is best to start looking for them well ahead of time. Pulse fish like the "baby whales", "roundnose whales", and "elephant nose" are the most interesting for the lab, but it is interesting to check a wave fish ("brown ghost" or "black ghost" knifefish) as well. A search of the internet reveals several stores that sell these fish, but we have no experience ordering fish and cannot recommend any particular suppliers.
| Supplier | Useful Items |
| Atchafalaya Biological Supply 832 St. Phillip Street Raceland, LA 70394 1-504-537-3135 phone |
Crayfish |
|
Carolina Biological Supply |
Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii ) size "large" is easiest to work with. Alga (Chara corallina ) (Carolina doesn't specify land snail species, but they appear not to be Helix aspersa.) |
|
Connecticut Valley Biological |
Land snails (Helix aspersa) - may not be available now without USDA permit. Connecticut's crayfish are smaller than Carolina's and are not Procambarus. However, they may be available at times when Procambarus is not. |
| William A. Lemberger P.O. Box 2482 Oshkosh, WI 54903 1-920-231-8410 |
Crayfish |
|
Niles Biological |
Crayfish (species not specified). Land snails (USDA permit required for shipment outside of California). |
|
Southern Scientific, Inc. |
Crayfish ("large" is probably Procambarus, cannot be shipped to California). Land snails (Helix aspersa). These may be available without a USDA permit. |
Parts
The suppliers listed below do not sell equipment specifically for neurobiology, or even specifically for scientific use. However, they do have many useful items, especially if you want to save money by fabricating your own equipment or electronics. It's worth requesting catalogs from these companies; inspiration will come later!
| Supplier | Useful Items |
|
All Electronics |
Electronic parts and equipment, unusual small parts. Selection varies and is smaller than the big suppliers, but if they have it, they will probably have the best price. |
|
Allied Electronics, Inc. |
All manner of electronic parts and equipment, including cable, BNC adapters, voltmeters, and so on. |
|
Digi-Key Corporation |
All manner of electronic parts and equipment, including cable, BNC adapters, voltmeters, and so on. |
|
Enco Manufacturing Co. |
Magnetic bases at low cost (model 635-0330). 36" long 12 mm diameter steel rods (model 505-0242; 6" piece required for micromanipulators). |
|
Hosfelt Electronics |
Electronic parts and equipment. Selection varies and is smaller than the big suppliers, but if they have it, they will probably have the best price. BNC to 1/8" mini plug adapter (useful with the Radio Shack audio monitor, and usually hard to find). Item 963. |
|
Newark Electronics |
All manner of electronic parts and equipment, including cable, BNC adapters, voltmeters, and so on. |
|
Radio Shack |
All manner of electronic parts and equipment, including cable, BNC adapters, voltmeters, and so on. Audio monitor 277-1008; AC adapter 277-1455. |
|
Small Parts, Inc. |
Many useful small mechanical parts; They have 6" long 12 mm diameter steel rods (required for manipulators), but they are expensive. You may prefer to lathe a 1/2" diameter aluminum rod or cut a 36" steel rod from Enco instead. |
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: Neither Cornell University nor the National Science Foundation endorses any particular supplier. We include these addresses as a service for those who have asked us where to obtain parts or supplies. Obviously, we cannot take responsibility for the suitability of any equipment obtained through these suppliers, etc. etc. etc.
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