Cutting-Edge Dispensing Technology to Optimize Your Laboratory Workflow

Discover the story behind this unique bottle top dispenser technology

Microlit was co-founded by Atul and Ajay Jain in 1990. At this time, the liquid handling business was largely dominated by European manufacturers and Atul and Ajay wanted to provide good quality products at competitive prices, to make them more accessible to the users of all levels. After extensive research and development and quality control, Microlit became the first non-European manufacturer of micropipettes in 1990, followed by electronic and miniature fixed-volume pipettes. In 2009, Microlit was also the first non-European company to manufacture bottle top dispensers.

Ajay Jain, Managing Director of Microlit

LH Technologies, LLC is a new joint venture Microlit formed with a partner in the United States in 2016. LH Technologies will service worldwide customers with innovative Liquid Handling products, starting with Jade and Sapphire Bottle Top Dispensers, currently available for the North & South American markets, and additional products including Digital Burettes scheduled for launch this Fall. SelectScience spoke to Ajay Jain about the company’s latest dispenser, the Sapphire.

Q: What are some of the current drawbacks to existing bottle top dispensers?

Current dispensers have a single inlet, so need to be dismounted from the reagent bottle for rinsing and bottle refilling. Rinsing is an essential requirement, particularly when working with hazardous chemicals or fuming acids. However, since the process is tedious, most users, in practice, do not perform this operation, which significantly reduces the life of the dispenser.

Furthermore, chemical compatibility of the current dispensers is also limited – different types of dispensers need to be selected for different applications such organic or inorganic substances. This is attributed to the fact that piston is made of PTFE and the valve is designed to work without the need for an internal spring.

When it comes to volume setting, screw type knobs can be very inconvenient and vulnerable to breakage. Toggle type knobs have a complicated design, including a spring and are also very vulnerable to damage. This reduces the dispenser life.

Finally, dilution is a very common application in most labs and two dispensers are required to perform this application.

Q: What are the advantages and key features of the Sapphire bottle top dispenser?

Sapphire bottle top dispenser is based on unique Dual Inlet Technology which allows the following modes of operation without dismounting the dispenser from the reagent bottle: standard dispensing, rinsing, dilution, second liquid dispensing and bottle refilling. Sapphire has superior chemical compatibility and can be used with very wide range of chemicals and reagents.

The specially designed volume adjustment knob with only 180° turn is very convenient and the preferred way of volume adjustment by the Sapphire’s users. The flexible delivery nozzle allows easy dispensing in narrow necked bottle or tubes in demanding laboratory conditions.

Q: What kind of labs are using the Sapphire bottle top dispenser already?

Sapphire is being utilized by all kinds of labs including in the pharmaceutical industry, biochemistry, toxicology, biotechnology and in other general life sciences labs.

Q: What are some of the potential applications of the Sapphire bottle top dispenser?

Since Sapphire is so versatile and can be used in several modes, there are applications suitable for it in every lab. High end labs like those in the pharmaceutical industry and research institutes find it very useful due to its rinsing feature and superior chemical compatibility.

Q: What is the future of the Sapphire bottle top dispenser?

We see Sapphire as the future of bottle top dispensers that will replace the conventional single inlet dispensers. It will be used in all the research labs, in industry and in life science.

Learn more about the Sapphire Bottle Top Dispenser here.

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