Automatic Acoustic Liquid Handling with Dynamic Fluid Analysis™

Labcyte has patented and released a novel software algorithm that enables a greater range of fluid types to be automatically transferred with acoustic energy. Dynamic Fluid AnalysisTM enables the Echo® liquid handling systems to adapt to changes in fluid properties such as surface tension and viscosity, and adjusts sound energy in real time with no operator intervention required. The advanced capabilities eliminate the operator calibration required by other liquid handling devices.

Echo liquid handling systems use ultrasound energy to transfer samples and reagents in a completely tipless and touchless manner. Dynamic Fluid Analysis interrogates solutions in real time on a well-by-well basis ensuring that a wide range of fluid types—cell lysates, varying reagent concentrations, proteins, and DNA—are transferred with the highest levels of precision and accuracy. Dynamic Fluid Analysis greatly enhances the Echo platform’s ability to adjust and compensate for inherent variations in fluids. With traditional liquid handling, operators are required to calibrate the machine in advance—a time-consuming process that is at best an approximation for conditions that may vary throughout an experimental assay. Errors in dispense parameters may lead to false results in an assay, resulting in costly experimental repeats or missed valuable results.

“Dynamic Fluid Analysis is a fundamental change in the way life science researchers will approach liquid handling,” stated Mark Fischer-Colbrie, Labcyte CEO. “Labcyte customers have demonstrated greatly improved miniaturized assays across a wide range of applications including qPCR, protein crystallography, and cell-based assays. Many applications require the precise transfer of viscous or low surface tension fluids, which are a challenge for other liquid handlers, especially in smaller formats. The Echo platform not only transfers these challenging solutions, but does so automatically.”