A computer method for the acquisition and analysis of patch-clamp single-channel currents

The method we present instructs the computer to deliver sets of programmed membrane voltages and allows the acquisition of large amounts of digitized data, compact storage, ready identification of records and rapid, interactive analysis of channel current data. A typical cycle of analysis including amplitude determination and kinetic measurements for 10 s of continuous data digitized at 5 kHz requires 5–20 min depending on the complexity of the observed channel activity. This procedure is compatible with such storage protocols as that described by Bezanilla [Biophys. J., 47 (1985) 437–441], although there are obvious benefits to using standard computer storage devices such as hard disks, floppy disks, and Bernoulli Boxes. The programs described in this report are available from the authors.