In our laboratory microsensor setups (see photographs) we use the following components:

• microelectrodes (made by our technicians, but can also be purchased from Unisense),
• a heavy stand,
• motorized linear positioners (VT-80 stage from Micos, equipped with a Faulhaber or Pollux motor, or LOT-Oriel motor),
• a manual 3-axis micromanipulator (from Maerzheuser),
• sensitive pA/mV-meters (built by our electronic workshop, but can also be purchased from Unisense),
• a data aquisiton (DAQ) device (National Instruments devices, such as DAQ-16XA-50, DAQ-Pad 6015, DAQ-Pad 6020E, USB-6009),
• a laptop, which needs
  • an RS232 connector for communication with the motorized stage (use USB→RS232 adapter, e.g., from Keyspan, if your computer does not have the RS232 connector),
  • a USB connector or PCMCIA slot for the DAQ device,
  • Microsoft Windows operating system (e.g., Win2000, WinXP),
  • measurement software,
• accessories, e.g., shielded cables, flow-cells/aquaria, tubing, pumps, light sources, bubbling stones, etc.

For a basic microsensor setup, you need approx. 1-1.5 sq-meter space and a vibration-free table. Follow these basic steps to assemble it:

• Prepare microelectrodes (make them either by yourself, or order them from our TA's, or purchase them from Unisense).
• Gather hardware mentioned above.
• Attach the manual micromanipulator to the motorized stage.
• Attach the motorized stage to the heavy stand (when using Micos stages, make sure that the stage is oriented with the motor upwards).
• Connect pA/mV-meters to the DAQ device.
• Connect the motorized stage and the DAQ device with the laptop.
• Arrange everything (i.e., the flow-cell, tubing, pump, light source, pA/mV-meters, DAQ device, laptop, etc.) neatly on the table. Minimize possible sources of vibrations.
• Attach sensors to the manual micromanipulator, connect them to the pA/mV-meters.

Before you start the actual measurement, ensure that all the hardware is functioning reliably. Specifically, test

• the movement of the motorized micromanipulator (using LINPOS-server):
  • check the optimum speed,
  • ensure that the downward movement corresponds to an increasing motor position,
  • familiarize yourself with the hot-keys (F1=up, F3=down, F2=stop),
• the quality of your sensor signal, and how it is read by the computer (using MAX),
• proper and reliable functioning of the accessories (e.g., constant pumping, illumination, air-flow, etc.),
• calibrate the microelectrodes.

Once all the components function properly, you can start the measurements. Below is a list of measurements that we usually conduct, and the corresponding program(s) that we use.

Since the programs listed above are TCP/IP servers, one can combine any of the measurements listed above in a complex experiment, which can be automated in a specific timing protocol using the scripting approach implemented in G-client.