Capillary Flow Cells
Flow Cells for Biofilm Microscopy in Square Glass Capillaries
The Capillary Flow Cells use square borosilicate glass capillaries as both the flow channel and the viewing window; there is no separate coverslip or slide. Biofilm grows directly on the inner walls of the glass capillary under continuous flow, and the thin capillary walls provide the optical path for imaging. This design gives the capillary flow cells a significantly wider usable flow rate range than flat plate flow cells, spanning laminar to turbulent conditions, and makes them well-suited for studies of biofilm formation and detachment under varying hydrodynamic conditions.
Each flow cell holds four independent square glass capillaries in an anodized aluminum holder, providing four parallel experimental channels per unit. The square cross-section of the capillaries allows flat optical access through the capillary wall and is compatible with transmitted light, reflected light, epi-fluorescence, and confocal microscopy. The capillaries are replaceable between experiments.
Capillary Flow Cell Model Comparison
| Model | Capillary ID | Wall Thickness | Compatible Objectives | Mounting Options | Tubing Size | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC 91 | 1mm | 0.15mm | High-power, oil and water immersion | Upright or Inverted | Size 13 (1mm ID) | 4 |
| FC 93 | 3mm | 0.5mm | Long working distance, low-power | Upright only | Size 16 (3mm ID) | 4 |
FC 91
with standard upright microscope attachment
FC 91
with 96-well plate attachment for inverted microscopes
FC 91 – 1mm ID Capillary Flow Cell
The FC 91 uses 1mm ID square borosilicate glass capillaries with a wall thickness of 0.15mm. The thin wall is designed for compatibility with high-power objectives including oil and water immersion lenses, making the FC 91 the appropriate choice for high-resolution confocal and fluorescence imaging. The FC 91 is available with a standard platform stage mount for upright microscopes or a microtiter plate footprint attachment for inverted microscopes. Barbed connectors included are compatible with size 13 (1mm ID) tubing.
Selected Publications
Purevdorj-Gage, B., Costerton, W.J., and Stoodley, P. “Phenotypic differentiation and seeding dispersal in non-mucoid and mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.” Microbiology 151.5 (2005): 1569-1576.
Xi, C., et al. “High-resolution three-dimensional imaging of biofilm development using optical coherence tomography.” Journal of Biomedical Optics 11.3 (2006): 034001.
Leid, J.G., et al. “Human leukocytes adhere to, penetrate, and respond to Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.” Infection and Immunity 70.11 (2002): 6339-6345.
FC 93
with standard upright microscope attachment
FC 93 – 3mm ID Capillary Flow Cell
The FC 93 uses 3mm ID square borosilicate glass capillaries with a wall thickness of 0.5mm. The larger bore and thicker walls make the FC 93 suitable for long working distance and low-power objectives, and for applications where higher volumetric flow rates or larger visible cross-sections are needed. The FC 93 is available with a standard platform stage mount for upright microscopes only. Barbed connectors included are compatible with size 16 (3mm ID) tubing.
