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Injectors designed to be used to insert or inject substances, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, toxins, or dyes, at a microscopic level through a fine-tipped needle roughly 0.5 to 5 micrometers in diameter into sub-cellular, cellular, or intercellular space. They are used with specialized microscopes and micromanipulators, allowing for small movement under high magnification. The substances are injected through the microinjectors by pressure provided through pneumatic, motorized, or manual controls. Pneumatic microinjectors connect to and are controlled by pressurized gas and are used to inject fluids. Motorized microinjectors are controlled by foot- or hand-switches and they can be used to inject small volumes at fixed speed reproducibly and precisely and with minimal vibration. Manual control is applied through a syringe attached to the microinjectors. Applications in which microinjectors are used include: basic genetics research; cloning of organisms; cytotoxicity tests; embryonic stem cell transfer into blastocyst; in vitro fertilization; intracytoplasmic sperm injection; ophthalmology procedures such as retinal pigment epithelial and intra-ocular injection; and somatic cell nuclear transfer. Microinjectors are used in clinical laboratories. Prefilled microinjection systems filled with solution to be injected intradermally, such as medicines or vaccines, are available.
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