The patch-clamp technique is based on the formation of a high resistance seal (10⁹-10¹⁰Ω) between the tip of a glass micropipette and the cell membrane it touches (gigaohm-seal). This technique allows recordings of ionic currents through single ion channels in the intact cell membrane and in isolated membrane patches at a defined membrane potential (voltage-clamp). Variations of the technique include whole-cell voltage-clamp recording and recordings in inside-out or outside-out membrane configurations.

 ATP-dependent K⁺ Channels