The Confocal Wire Myograph System - 360CW is specially designed to provide very close optical access to the mounted artery or tissue segment, thereby allowing high resolution images of fluorescent dyes or markers by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). This system elegantly combines LSCM with artery myography to allow simultaneous measurements of isometric force and fluorescence. A perfect example are studies that correlate isometric contractions in an isolated, mounted blood vessel and intracellular Ca2+ measurements within the vascular smooth muscle cells.

The unique design of the chamber combines the precision and stability of conventional wire myographs with the added feature of precise Z-axis movement by a micrometer. This optimises the flexibility of using this system with different LSCMs and various high magnification objectives.

The bath design allows easy access for the high numerical aperture immersion objectives used on inverted microscopes and also direct immersion objectives used on standard upright microscopes. In addition, special mounting supports were specifically designed to allow precise vertical positioning of a mounted blood vessel or tissue ring directly above or on the chamber window. This permits the use of objectives with working distances smaller than 250 μm on an inverted LSCM. This may be advantageous when simultaneous electrophysiological measurements are collected from the top of the mounted tissue.

The chambers are supplied with custom covers for inverted or upright microscope systems. The covers include connections for suction, gassing or measurement electrodes (pH, NO, O2tension).

Compounds can be added directly to the chamber, and vessel force/tension can be directly measured while on the LSCM. Data acquired from the myograph (such as force and temperature) can be recorded continuously, either by using the user-defined analog outputs or the serial interface.

The new updated Wire Interface with the finger touch screen makes it easy to setup and use. Furthermore, the new Wire Interface is prepared for the DMT Device Enabler allowing Automatic recognition of supported devices by LabChart, use of multiple devices simultaneously, correct units and ranges in LabChart channels and simultaneous recording of data into LabChart alongside a PowerLab. The DMT Device Enabler allows the Confocal Wire Myograph - 360CW to stream data directly into LabChart without a Powerlab box.

• For use with small vessels or ring shapes tissues from 30 μm - 3 mm, inverse mounted on special jaws

• For fluorescence or high-end morphological imaging

• Sandwich bath design enables use of very low working distance objectives

• Conical chamber to facilitate very low media volume Hinged top facilitates easy access

"Calcium oscillations in human mesenteric vascular smooth muscle" Navarro-Dorado J., Garcia-Alonso M., van Breemen C., Tejerina T., Fameli N. 

"Endothelial alkalinisation inhibits gap junction communi-cation and endothelium-derived hyperpolarisations in mouse mesenteric arteries" Boedtkjer E., Kim S., Aalkjaer C.