Tempest
Key Features
Robotic Integration & Plate Stacking (optional)
The base Tempest can be optionally upgraded to include plate stackers. Short and tall towers are available to accommodate stacks of up to 25 or 50 plates. The system is bidirectional, enabling plates to be cycled in from either stacker. Without the stacker towers the system is fully robot accessible from both sides, and has a .net API to allow for integration with your automation systems. Built into the moving stage is an active plate clamp that holds plates securely during rapid motion and locates them precisely for proper dispensing.
Modular Dispense Head
Formulatrix' microfluidic technology redefines liquid handling standards by replacing traditional methods with a microfluidic chip. This chip uses positive displacement micropumps to dispense reagents faster with less waste. Dispenses a 10µL, 384-well plate in less than eight seconds.
Plate Formats and Speed
Currently the Tempest supports nearly all SBS footprint plates including 24-, 96-, 384-, and 1536-well plates. Future models will include 3456-well plate compatibility.
- Dispense Speed Example:
- 200nL per well to 96-well plate = 13 seconds
- 4 μL to 384-well plate = 16 seconds
- 20 μL to 384-well plate = 32 seconds
12 Ingredient Inputs
Adding an ingredient is fast and easy using the magnetic ingredient inputs. No pressurized bottles or special containers are required. Ingredients can be placed in nearly any reservoir, and different input tube lengths can be ordered to meet your needs. The system is capable of dispensing up to 12 different ingredients simultaneously, and multiple chips can be used to dispense the same single ingredient for increased speed. To keep stocks fresh, the Tempest can be programmed to periodically recirculate ingredients without waste. For rare or precious samples a pipette tip can be used as a reservoir and plugged directly into the chip.
Extremely Low Dead Volumes
The Tempest is capable of returning any excess sample from the microfluidic chip back into the ingredient reservoir, allowing for incredibly low dead volumes of <40uL. For precious samples with only a small amount of starting stock, a pipette tip can be used as an ingredient reservoir, this will yield a dead volume of 100ul. If recirculation is a concern, the typidcal dead volumes will be about 4ul.
Easy to Maintain and Clean
The Tempest makes cleaning fast and easy with its automated dual solution wash that cleans the entire liquid path and requires no user intervention. The system uses a reverse fluid flow wash, aspirating solution up through the nozzle orifice and forcing particles backward through the system’s increasingly larger channels for thorough clog-free cleaning.