Bio-Rad Gene Pulser Xcell™ Electroporation Systems - Manual (Page 7)

Section 1
The Gene Pulser Xcell ™ Electroporation System
The Gene Pulser Xcell is a pulse generator that uses capacitors to produce controlled exponential or square
wave electrical pulses for cell electroporation. The unit is capable of producing pulses of up to 3000 V on a
high-voltage circuit, and up to 500 V on a low-voltage circuit. For generating pulses on the high voltage
circuit, capacitors of 10, 15, and 25 µF present in the Gene Pulser Xcell main unit are used and generating
pulses on the low-voltage circuit requires use of capacitors in the CE Module. Exponential decay (or
capacitance discharge) and square wave pulses are the most commonly used types of electrical pulse. An
in-depth discussion of these two waveforms can be found in Section 4.
The Gene Pulser Xcell is a modular system, comprising of a main unit and two accessory modules, the CE
module and the PC module, in addition to the shocking chamber and a cuvette with incorporated electrodes.
The CE Module is recommended for use with the Gene Pulser Xcell main unit for electroporation of most
eukaryotic cells, including mammalian cells and plant protoplasts. The CE Module should only be used
with low-resistance media (<1000 ohms). For exponential decay pulses, the CE Module provides a
means of controlling the capacitance of the circuit by increasing the time constant of the pulse. For
square wave pulses, the CE Module provides the large capacitor necessary for delivering a square wave
pulse into low resistance media. This module contains a set of capacitors with a functional range
between 50 and 3275 µF and selectable in 25 µF increments. For square wave pulses, the CE Module
provides the large capacitance, 3275 µF, necessary for delivering a square wave pulse into low
resistance media.
The PC Module is recommended for the electroporation of bacteria and fungi using exponential decay, as
well as in other applications where high-voltage pulses are applied to samples of small volume and high
resistance. The PC Module selects resistance of 50 ohms 1000 ohms in 50-ohm increments. The unit is
used to control the resistance of the circuit by placing resistors in parallel with the sample, thereby provid-
ing a means of reducing the time constant of an exponential decay pulse. This provides an effective
means of controlling the time constant when using high-resistance media but has little effect on the time
constant when using low-resistance media. The PC Module greatly reduces the likelihood of an arc
occurring at high voltage. It is not recommended that the PC module be used for square wave pulses due
to the increase in droop of the pulse that can occur (see Section 4).
Both the PC Module and CE Module have integral leads that connect to the main unit (see Section 2
for installation) and both units are controlled directly from the user interface on the front panel of the
main unit.
1.1 General Safety Information
This Bio-Rad instrument is designed and certified to meet the safety requirements of EN61010 and the
EMC requirements of EN61326 (for Class A) and conforms to the “Class A” standards for electromagnetic
emissions intended for laboratory equipment applications. This instrument is intended for laboratory
application only. It is possible that emissions from this product may interfere with some sensitive appliances
when placed nearby or in the same circuit as those appliances. The user should be aware of this potential
and take appropriate measures to avoid interference.
No part of the Gene Pulser Xcell system should be used if obvious external case damage has occurred
or the electronic displays are not functioning as described in the manual. This instrument is only to be
used with the components provided (or their authorized additions or replacements) including, but not
limited to, supplied cables and ShockPod. The operating temperature range for the Gene Pulser Xcell
system and its associated components is 0–35°C.
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