Molecular Devices Axon Digidata 1550B low-noise data acquisition system plus HumSilencer

The Axon Digidata 1550B plus HumSilencer, from Molecular Devices, is an analog-to-digital signal converter featuring an innovative line synchronous noise-cancelling feature. This feature learns, adapts and eliminates local 50/60 Hz line-frequency noise and high-frequency harmonics from incoming signals. Suitable applications include cellular pathway analysis of ion channels, digital acquisition, disease research, HumSilencer technology and patch-clamp electrophysiology.

The digitiser works with pCLAMP 11 software for data acquisition and analysis. The software supports eight channels of analog acquisition and four acquisition modes.

50/60 Hz line-frequency noise, also known as electrical hum, is the most common source of background noise in patch-clamp electrophysiology experiments. This noise can overwhelm biological signals of interest, making sensitive patch-clamp measurements nearly impossible. Traditional troubleshooting is typically only partially effective and can impair data accuracy.

HumSilencer is a filter-free, adaptive technology that learns and removes line frequency noise without using methods that impair signal accuracy like filters, which can distort biological signals. It removes 50/60 Hz line-frequency noise on up to four channels in parallel and the function is quickly enabled through a software checkbox. All eight analog input channels can be simultaneously digitised at a sampling rate of 500 kHz per channel.

The system is designed to help the user record cellular networks without 50/60 Hz line-frequency noise in a single digitiser while saving time and reducing hassle. It digitises a wide range of input signals from -10 to +10 V. HumSilencer automatically recognises changes in noise amplitudes and adapts by removing noise in less than 1 s. Three configurations are available: Digidata 1550B4 with four HumSilencer channels; Digidata 1550B1 with one HumSilencer channel; and Digidata 1550B0 without a HumSilencer channel.