A method and an apparatus for performing automated patch clamp analysis on a plurality of biological cells

A method of performing automated patch clamp analysis on a plurality of biological cells, while each of said cells is patch clamped in a patch clamp apparatus comprising a plurality of patch-clamp wells, the method comprising the steps of, independently and in parallel for each one of the wells:

• clamping each of the cells in a respective one of the wells;
• placing at least one of the cells in voltage-clamp mode by applying a respective, defined voltage or voltage protocol to each respective one of the at least one cell;
• determining a value of a parameter associated with the voltage-clamp mode while the at least one cell is in voltage-clamp mode;
• shifting from voltage-clamp mode to current-clamp mode while applying a respective, defined current to each one of the at least one cell or shifting from voltage-clamp mode to current-clamp mode followed by applying a respective, defined current to the at least one cell while the cell is in current-clamp mode;
• controlling said shift and/or a property of the current-clamp mode on the basis of the value of the parameter, determined while the at least one cell was in voltage-clamp mode.

An apparatus for performing automated patch clamp analysis on a plurality of biological cells, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one patch-clamp well for clamping respective ones of the cells, the apparatus being configured to place at least one of the cells in voltage-clamp mode by applying a respective, defined voltage or voltage protocol to each respective one of the at least one cell;
• a sensor system configured to determine a value of a parameter associated with the voltage-clamp mode while the at least one cell is in voltage-clamp mode;
• a controller configured to, independently and in parallel for each one of the at least one well:
• cause a shift from voltage-clamp mode to current-clamp mode;
• apply a respective, defined current to each one of the at least one cell while the cell is in current-clamp mode;
• control said shift and/or a property of the current-clamp mode on the basis of the value of the parameter, determined while the at least one cell was in voltage-clamp mode.