Tools for Drug Discovery

History of IonWorks™ HT

Invented by Essen Instruments

[U.S. Patent 6,488,829]

The IonWorks™ HT is a planar-patch clamp technology, allowing for true voltage clamp measurements on hundreds of cells in parallel.[3] The system operates by recording ion channel activity in a 384-well, planar substrate (the PatchPlate™).

Essen’s Ion Channel Services provide access to the IonWorks™ HT platform and Essen’s expertise, at prices which are unmatched in the industry. Working in close partnership with the inventors of the IonWorks™ HT technology allows customers to find solutions to each company’s ion channel requirements.

Shown about is a sample of simultaneous recordings from the 48-channel electronics head. Eight successive "reads" comprise collection from 384 wells.

[3] Schroeder, K., Neagle, B. "IonWorks- A New High Throughput Electrophysiology Platform", KeyNote presentation at Society of Biomolecular Screening