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Fluid Transfer Pins (FTP)
Accurate and Inexpensive nL to µL Passive Fluid Transfer
Fig. 1 Schematics of Fluid Transfer Pins (FTPs) with various transfer volumes. |
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The transfer of fluids in the nL to µL range, for example in high throughput compound library reformatting protocols, can be a slow, inaccurate (metal pin transfer tools) or very costly (acoustic dispensers for reformatting applications can cost >$300,000) process. The pins function by imbibing the fluid to be transferred into a very accurately micromachined slot by capillary action. The fluid is passively released by diffusion by dipping the filled slot into a liquid in the destination plate well. Volumes from nL to µL can be transferred with %CV values as low as 4%. The pins can be configured to transfer individual samples manually or can be used in a printhead to transfer in parallel. Adapters for many common reformatting tools are available or can be built. Configurations with pin holders containing up to 1536 transfer pins on SBS 96, 384 or 1536 are formats available. Since the pins are easily cleaned using existing protocols, the silicon FTP provide the easiest, quickest, most accurate and least expensive way to transfer very small liquid volumes. An additional time and cost saving attribute of the silicon FTP tools is that they can puncture and withdraw samples from foil or polymer covered microtiter plates without removing the cover film! These FTPs will also soon be available in a disposable format consisting of a surface functionalized acrylic polymer tool.
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Fig. 2 Volume of liquid transferred for 8 randomly selected Si pins (6 replicates per pin) with (right) and without (left) puncturing the foil covering the source plate. Average liquid volume transferred per pin is 100nL.
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Fig. 3 Photograph showing an array of FTPs aspirating samples from a 384 well source plate that is covered with aluminum foil tape. The photographs show pins before (left), during (center) and after (right) puncturing the foil.
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The FTP are currently available in the following formats. Custom sizes, designs, transfer volumes and mounting adapters can be prepared for nominal non-recurring engineering and design charges.
Transfer volumes of FTPs available:
- 5nL
- 10nL
- 25nL
- 50nL
- 100nL
- 200nL
- Please call 408.749.8318 for custom reservoir volumes
Pin holders available:
- 96 pin holder (96 SBS format; 9mm spacing)
- 384 pin holder (384 SBS format; 4.5mm spacing)
- 1536 pin holder (1536 SBS format; 2.25mm spacing
- Please call 408.749.8318 for custom holder formats and sizes
Please click here for ordering information
For
more information, pricing and custom designing please contact us
at
408.749.8318 or info@parallel-synthesis.com
OEM
enquiries welcome
The development of the "Fluid Transfer Pins" is supported by the
National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH). |
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Copyright
© 2000-2007 Parallel Synthesis Technologies, Inc. All
Rights Reserved.
3054 Lawrence Expy. Santa Clara, CA 95051
info@parallel-synthesis.com, Phone:(408) 749-8318 Fax:(408) 749-8318
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