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New for the Laboratory! Independent-Channel Peristaltic Pump from Idex Health & Science Responding to customer demand, Idex Health & Science introduces independent-channel control in a peristaltic pump with the new Ismatec®
Reglo ICC for laboratory use.
Offering one, two, or three-channel configurations, the ICC (an acronym for Independent Channel Control) expands on Ismatec’s proven accuracy and precision with a re- engineered, long-life drive mechanism, a space-efficient footprint, and digital software control from the keypad or computer. Per-channel flow range for the ICC extends from 0.002 to 35mL/minute for continuous pumping or precision dispensing. Independent channel calibration minimises tube-to-tube differences resulting in the best calibration accuracy possible in a multichannel peristaltic pump.
Commenting on the ICC’s development path, Ismatec Product Manager, George Bednar described, “In our Voice of Customer interviews, virtually all our customers — laboratory users, distributors, and instrument manufacturers — clearly asked for independent channel control. Prior to this time, no other pump maker had been willing to make the substantial engineering commitment required to bring the ICC to market.” He continued,
“Our engineering team took it even further by simplifying the high-precision drive mechanism to make the pump drive last even longer, and added functional capability with the installed software.” Bednar also explained that because interest in the ICC is high, Ismatec anticipates an interim ramp-up period to build sufficient shelf stock for rapid delivery. “Through September 1st, we’re offering the ICC at a one-time, introductory price equal to our standard Reglo digital pump — so you can essentially buy three pumps for the price of one!”
The control software and graphical user interface on the ICC keypad work together in an intuitive manner to allow the laboratory user to easily develop and save application controls and pump protocols, and then download to the ICC for operation. “Early on, the basic mechanism of a peristaltic pump made it suitable for the simplest transfer of many different fluids from point A to B,” explained Lead Development Engineer, Gunay Ozturk. “What made Ismatec pumps so popular in Swiss and German labs has been their unmatched precision at very low flow rates. Now with independent channels and programmable software control, each channel of the ICC can be controlled, calibrated, and function like a separate, high-precision pump, yet take up no more space on the bench.”
Bednar explained that peristaltic pumps have typically been used for pumping slurries, viscous, shear-sensitive, or aggressive fluids; and favoured for applications where isolating the pumped fluid from the pump mechanism is necessary. He added, “The flexibility and control of the ICC make it ideal for applications from medicine to food and beverage production, agriculture and industry — such as dispensing protective coatings to electronic components.
However because of the low-flow accuracy of Ismatec pumps, we’re seeing the greatest interest from laboratories that need to dispense discreet buffers and reagents for automated or sequential analysis such as batch-fed fermentations, liquid-phase reactor systems, or controlled feeding distribution.”
Ismatec is a brand of Idex Health & Science LLC. Idex Health & Science designs, develops, and manufactures liquid subassemblies and precision components for a wide range of applications requiring precise control and measurement. Specialising in component integration that results in innovative and optimised OEM fluidic systems, Idex Health & Science is the synthesis of leading component and technology suppliers to the Analytical Instrument, In Vitro Diagnostics, and Biotechnology markets. Other Idex Health & Science brands include Eastern Plastics, Innovadyne, Isolation Technologies, Rheodyne, Sapphire Engineering, Systec, and Upchurch Scientific.
MORE INFO. 547
Idex Health & Science Perfects Tightening Technology in New Upchurch Scientific INTUITIVE™ Fitting
“This is one time we didn’t try to be first, we wanted to be the best” chuckled Product Development Manager Scott Ellis in describing the new Upchurch Scientific long-life, torque-assurance technology. Idex Health & Science debuted the new Intuitive™ Technology with two flat-bottom fittings ideal for IVD instruments at AACC.
Upchurch Scientific Product Manager George Bednar described the history of the technology, “More and more, our customers requested this type of product because it eliminates the need for tools during installation or service. Anyone can use the fitting correctly, even without instruction, and be assured that it works as promised. Customers also wanted a broader pressure-holding range; our design expands that range significantly.” To further illuminate the operating condition, Ellis added, “We validated a broad ‘finger-tightening range’ between 1.5 to 6 inch-pounds using a sophisticated torque tool. Numerically that doesn’t sound like a big difference, but it is exponentially vast as far as the amount of pressure-holding force achieved at those polarities. On flat bottom fittings for example, the difference in pressure performance between 2 inch-pounds and 4 inch-pounds can sometimes mean double the pressure-holding capability.”
The new Intuitive flat-bottom fitting is currently available in PEEK™ and Delrin® for 1/8" and 1/16" tubing. One concern addressed during the technology’s long development path was product life. Ellis explains,
“This technology exists in a much bigger scale, gas caps for instance. But getting it down to the scale where you can fit multiple fittings into a small valve is a different level of engineering. We devoted a lot of effort to extended product life. Think of it this way—with each installation ‘click’, it wears it down a little bit, a little bit, a little bit. And over time that can give you different values. We wanted to assure rigorous consistency time and time again. In lifetime testing we’ve validated more than 100 install/release cycles with no degradation in performance.” George Bednar summarised the goals for the technology, “It eliminates the guesswork. It makes installation easy. It eliminates need for any type of custom tools. It eliminates need for any type of training or expertise. It gives you an audible click no different than the click of a backpack strap or a seatbelt. You hear the click. You know it’s engaged and you know it’s going to work.”
MORE INFO. 548
Idex Health & Science Optimises Fluidic Efficiency with Revolutionary Manifold Innovation
By resolving the toughest challenge to the lifetime of a fluidic manifold — deposits that crystallise in sharp corners and clog the flow path — the patent-pending Eastern Plastics’ Spiral Transition™ improves flow characteristics in manifolds by eliminating sharp turns. Frank Molgano, Idex Health & Science Director of New Product Development for Eastern Plastic products described the new technology, “We can move fluid through a Spiral Transition more efficiently than through a sharp 90 degree turn. Fluids lose energy at a hard corner because of turbulence generated by the change in direction. We can see this in our analytics using CFD (computational fluid dynamics) on the Spiral and on standard 90 degree transitions.
For more than 50 years, Eastern Plastics’ manifolds and components have been used to distribute fluids in diagnostic and life science instruments. Until development of Spiral Transition, manufacturing requirements dictated that changes in direction along the flow path within a manifold were limited to sharp turns. This geometry disrupts laminar flow, causing turbulence and areas of low-velocity flow where deposits can collect. In comparison, Spiral Transition promotes a fully swept, laminar flow path at a more consistent speed and pressure.
Chad Collins, Idex Health & Science General Manager for Eastern Plastic products commented, “All those performance benefits add up to increased reliability of the flow path, and ultimately, uptime of the instrument. Some companies might have hesitated to adopt manifold technology because of concern over clogs — it’s the same concern with any component along a flow path. Reducing the opportunity for crystals to form and improving flow efficiency makes the manifold less susceptible to clogs and more reliable. Or, if some buildup does occur following a period of downtime or inadequate wash protocols — the sweeping design of the spiral makes it easy to clear with fishing line during periodic maintenance.”
“One customer is considering a Spiral Transition manifold to reduce pressure spikes during pump startup. Reducing restrictions created by sharp turns minimises fluid disturbances and achieves more uniform pressure conditions,” Molgano added.
Currently the Eastern Plastics team designs Spiral Transition into their multi-layered, diffusion-bonded manifolds, predominantly in acrylic and Ultem®. As the technology advances, moving into the single-layered
manifolds, the team anticipates that most engineered plastics can be utilised. Molgano explained some of the design considerations involved, “How does an instrument designer chose among discreet components or a simple manifold versus more-complex manifolds? What goes into that decision? Often, many factors; it could be size, it could be saving the cost of very expensive reagents, the need for a space-efficient footprint, possibly some thermal characteristics, it may be for specific flow performance. Some designers want a complete modular unit to pop into the system. Customers familiar with our manifolds exhibit a lot of interest in Spiral Transition because it improves the performance of the fluidics in the instrument. Simple as that.”
MORE INFO. 549
LABMATE UK & IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 2012 - ADVERTORIAL
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