Liquid Handling Technology
Liquid handling incorporates several key technologies to optimize performance, accuracy, and use-fullness to the user. First the pipettor must be able to automatically determine the level of the liquid in order to either pipette just above or below the surface. Aspiration must occur below the surface. Sometimes it must occur on one side or the other the interface between two liquids such in the application of Liquid-Liguid Extraction. To optimize results, dispense can occur either just above or below the liquid level depending on the volume, viscosity and surface tension attributes of the liquid. Liquid level must be detectable for as many liquid types as possible. Capacitive detection serves well in ionic liquids. Pressure is better for non-ionic liquids. Pressure sensing can aid in monitoring the pipetting process, provide a trace file as well as allow for automatic error response and prevent drips and cross contamination. Air displacement pipetting elimates cross over contamination as experienced in system liquid pipetting techniques. In addition, the pipetting channels must be smart enough to detect that the correct tip is attached for the pipetting settings called by the control software. The Hamilton Microlab STAR and Nimbus bring all of these technologies together for the best performance possible of any pipetting workstation on the market today. Learn more by clicking on the links below.
Monitored Air Displacement (MAD)