Inertial Impact Drill — PiezoDrill®

Enables Breakthroughs in the Creation of Transgenic Animals
The Burleigh PiezoDrill® inertial impact drill allows a genetically engineered nucleus to be deposited directly into the cytoplasm with negligible damage to the recipient oocyte. There is a growing body of research indicating that this approach can greatly improve productivity and yields in the creation of transgenic animals.

The PiezoDrill® can also be used to greatly improve yields in intracytocplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for mice and other species of interest.

References
For several years, researchers around the world have reported successful use of piezo devices in some of the most prestigious journals available. Once a little-known technique, use of piezo-based micromanipulators has now become a mainstream approach in the creation of transgenic animals.

1) Cell Synchronization for the Purposes of Nuclear Transfer in the Bovine by Korfiatis, Trounson and Lacham-Kaplan, Cloning and Stem Cells, Volume 3, Number 3, 2001

2) New Technique Enhances Microinjection on Oocytes by Friedrich, Polder and Weskamp, BIOforum International, June 2001. (341 kB, pdf)

3) Mammalian Transgenesis by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection by Perry, Wakayama, Kishikawa, Kasai, Okabe, Toyoda and Yanagimachi, Science Vol. 284, May 14, 1999

4) Full-term Development of Mice from Enucleated Oocytes Injected with Cumulus Cell Nuclei by Wakayama, Perry, Zuccotti, Johnson and Yanagimachi, Nature Vol. 394, July 23, 1998

5) Development of Normal Mice from Oocytes Injected with Freeze-dried Spermatozoa, by Wakayama and Yanagimachi, Nature Biotechnology, Vol. 16, July, 1998

6) Pig cloning by Microinjection of Fetal Fibroblast Nuclei, by Onishi, Iwamoto, Akita, Mikawa, Takeda, Hanada and Perry, Science, Vol. 289, August 18, 2000

7) Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection in the Mouse by Yanagimachi and Kimura, Biology of Reproduction, 52, 709 - 720, (1995)

Procedures

Animation of ICSI with PiezoDrill inertial impact drill

Description/Specifications
For more than twenty-five years, EXFO has used the precision of piezoelectric technology to produce many useful devices for science and industry. Therefore, we are well positioned to bring piezo technology into practical use for procedures such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and nuclear transfer.

The PiezoDrill® system produces mechanical pulses that travel longitudinally along the pipette and vibrate the tip. The tip vibrations aid in cutting ("drilling") through the zona pellucida and the oolemma. Improved results have been demonstrated for ICSI and nuclear transfer for many types of oocytes including mouse, bovine, sheep, pig, etc.

The PiezoDrill® system includes the actuator, electronic amplifier and footswitch. The actuator mounts in any micromanipulator by clamping its 4 mm diameter shaft. A holder on one end of the shaft accepts standard glass pipettes that have been pulled and shaped for microinjection. On the opposite side of the shaft is a proprietary piezoelectric inertial actuator that generates sharp longitudinal pulses along the shaft axis.

The electronic amplifier generates the high-bandwidth electronic pulses that drive the piezo actuator. The frequency, duration, amplitude and bandwidth of the pulses are fully adjustable. Two independent settings can be maintained at all times to allow the operator to apply different pulses for zona and oolemma penetration without having to readjust pulse parameters. An ergonomic two-position footswitch initiates the pulses based on the two settings on the amplifier, leaving your hands free to operate other instruments in the microinjection process.

PiezoDrill™ Components

Animation of ICSI with PiezoDrill inertial impact drill

Description/Specifications
For more than twenty-five years, EXFO has used the precision of piezoelectric technology to produce many useful devices for science and industry. Therefore, we are well positioned to bring piezo technology into practical use for procedures such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and nuclear transfer.

The PiezoDrill® system produces mechanical pulses that travel longitudinally along the pipette and vibrate the tip. The tip vibrations aid in cutting ("drilling") through the zona pellucida and the oolemma. Improved results have been demonstrated for ICSI and nuclear transfer for many types of oocytes including mouse, bovine, sheep, pig, etc.

The PiezoDrill® system includes the actuator, electronic amplifier and footswitch. The actuator mounts in any micromanipulator by clamping its 4 mm diameter shaft. A holder on one end of the shaft accepts standard glass pipettes that have been pulled and shaped for microinjection. On the opposite side of the shaft is a proprietary piezoelectric inertial actuator that generates sharp longitudinal pulses along the shaft axis.

The electronic amplifier generates the high-bandwidth electronic pulses that drive the piezo actuator. The frequency, duration, amplitude and bandwidth of the pulses are fully adjustable. Two independent settings can be maintained at all times to allow the operator to apply different pulses for zona and oolemma penetration without having to readjust pulse parameters. An ergonomic two-position footswitch initiates the pulses based on the two settings on the amplifier, leaving your hands free to operate other instruments in the microinjection process.

PiezoDrill™ Components

PiezoDrill™ Actuator Assembly
The PiezoDrill™ Assembly consists of the PiezoDrill™ Actuator, pipette holder and a 4 mm metal shaft to fit into any existing micromanipulator system including the Burleigh MIS-5000 system.

PiezoDrill™ Amplifier
Independent controls for pulse duration, frequency and amplitude allow for total customization for your desired protocol.

PiezoDrill™ Footswitch
The two-position footswitch allows the application of different pulses for both zona and oolemma penetration.

Mercury Precautions
Because some researchers use a small amount of mercury in the injection pipette when using the PiezoDrill®, we've included a document created under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by the University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory entitled Safe Handling of Mercury and Mercury Compounds.

Click here to download a copy of "Safe Handling of Mercury and Mercury Compounds" in PDF Format.

Mercury Warning
Those who choose to utilize mercury in the injection pipette with the PiezoDrill® are strongly cautioned that the exposure to, use or handling of mercury poses significant health risks, including without limitation neurological damage, kidney damage, brain damage, memory loss, blindness and cognitive impairment. Those who choose to utilize mercury in the inl jection pipette with the PiezoDrill® are strongly advised to fully familiarize themselves with the hazards associated with mercury, as well as guidelines for use and handling. Mercury should not be used in the injection pipette with the PiezoDrill® by any individuals or laboratories unwilling to bear the entire risk of exposure to mercury, or unable to properly safeguard against mercury exposure. EXFO, its affiliates, employees, successors and assigns hereby disclaim in its entirety and shall have no liability whatsoever to any party, including without limitation its customers, their respective employees or other users of the PiezoDrill®, for damages or losses arising out of or otherwise related to the use or handling of, or the exposure to, mercury. EXFO does not recommend or suggest the use of mercury in connection with the PiezoDrill® and the user assumes all risks associated with any decision to do so: EXFO disclaims all representations and warranties regarding the use of mercury in connection with the PiezoDrill®.