The Maestro MEA system is operated by the hCTO Core and is available for high-throughput of drugs on excitability, disease-in-dish modeling, and other applications.
Location: hCTO Core, Couch Biomedical Research Building, Room 3126
Specifications: Maestro, Multiwell, 768-channel MEA system with USB interface including stimulation/recording device, data acquisition system, temperature control, ECmini, desktop computer, monitor, and AxIS software for acquisition and analysis. Accommodates 12, 48, and 96-well, SLAS-compliant plates.
How do I reserve time with the MEA?
- For first-time users, a training session is required. Please contact Dr. Kuo-Chan (KC) Weng to schedule a training session.
- For prior users, you must sign-up in advance. There is a 30-minute minimum. Here is the MEA Reservation Schedule. Reserved time includes set-up and clean-up time.
- Users are responsible to acquire their own plates for use with the MEA. Plates are available through Axion Biosystems. Users are highly advised to check with a representative from Axion Biosytems to determine which plates are appropriate given the experimental design and equipment. Plates are NOT available through the hCTO Core.
| User Type | Rental Fee |
|---|---|
| First-Time User | $12.50 per 30 minutes up to 5 hours. Applies once to each lab. |
| Prior User | $25 per 30 minutes. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
- If I am not a Center of Regenerative Medicine (CRM) member, can I still use this device? Yes, the MEA device is open to those outside the CRM!
- What types of cells can I record from? The device is appropriate for dissociated cultures of excitable cells (e.g., rodent neurons, human induced neurons, cardiac myocytes, and smooth muscle cells). Contact Axion Biosystems for advice on cell-specific issues.
- If I don’t use all 30 minutes, can I be billed for a prorated time? While actual recording may take only 5 minutes, additional time is required for set-up and clean-up. The shortest billable unit is 30 minutes.
- I reserved time, but I want to cancel my reservation? Please use our Shared Calendar to modify or cancel your time.
- My experiment requires that I record multiple times throughout the day. Can I reserve the machine for the full day? Please reserve the machine only for those times that you actually will need to set-up and record, noting the 30-minute minimum for each. This will allow others to use the equipment during your off-times.
- Where can I purchase plates? Plates can be ordered from Axion Biosystems and typically arrive within one week. Please work with a Representative from Axion Biosystems to ensure that you are purchasing plates that will work best for your experiments and work on our system. Software settings must be adjusted for each plate type.
- What if I’m unsure whether the MEA device is useful for me? After a required training session, there is a reduced rate while you try out the system. This “new user” fee is $12.50/30 minutes, up to 5 hours in a single week. After that, the fee goes to the regular rate of $25/30 minutes.
- Is software available for data analysis? Yes. For neural and cardiac data, a separate Data Analysis Software and instruction manual are included. These can be installed offsite. If another software is preferred, raw files can be converted to CSV files using the Data Exporter Tool, allowing you to convert data to be read elsewhere.
- How is data storage handled? A user supplied external hard drive is best. Be aware that large storage capacity is required.
- Who should I contact if I have additional questions? For inquires about the MEA device, contact hCTO’s Core Director, Dr. Kuo-Chan (KC) Weng.