Q. What are the advantages of the Integra 3™?
A. The Integra 3™ has very natural and intuitive controls. It has a quick and easy micropipette set-up procedure, with the ability to change the micropipette angle with a single control. It is also compact and takes up very little laboratory bench-top space, whilst providing a large stage surface area to work on. Thermosafe™ ensures consistent temperature, including in the microscope line of sight, to provide stable temperature during micromanipulation.
Q. How easy is it for a customer to change over to RI if they have never used the Integra 3™ before?
A. Very easy – most people convert perfectly after a couple of sessions. You have to get used to new hand positions, but this takes very little time and once mastered, the control is superb and the operation much quicker.
Q .What is included in the system?
A. The Integra 3™ comes as standard with: 2 x micromanipulators incorporating coarse and fine controls, 2 x toolholders with easy micropipette set-up, 1 x large heated stage, 1 x Thermosafe™ warm air heating system (option available without Thermosafe™), 1 x 3-channel temperature controller with improved touch screen control, 2 x SAS syringes / injectors, 2 x handrests, 1 x mechanical XY stage. Optional extras: Glass heated stage insert, extra-smooth air syringe (SAS-SE) or oil syringe (SOS), microscope camera, PC / monitor, RI imaging software RI Viewer™.
Q. What if we wish to use existing syringes or syringes from another company?
A. We have adaptors which allow existing syringes to be used with the Integra 3™.
Q. Can RI provide training?
A. We can provide instruction on how to use the equipment at installation, and can also arrange a training session at a current user’s lab, or arrange for an experienced embryologist to visit your lab. This is equipment training only. If clinical procedure training is needed, we can put you in touch with laboratories who offer this service.
Q. Why would Thermosafe™ be useful?
A. Maintaining even temperatures during micromanipulation helps preserve the best conditions for the samples even outside of the incubator. Please refer to “Can temperature stability be improved during micromanipulation procedures by introducing a novel air warming system?”, 2014, Wheat S, Vaughan K, Harbottle S.” and Integra TI vs Integra 3 (I3): a prospective randomised sibling study assessing fertilisation outcome, embryo quality and morphokinetic parameters”, 2014, Gwinnett D, Cook C, Escriba M, Hickman C, Trew G, Lavery S.
