Double density laboratory store uses shorter microtubes to squeeze twice as many samples into the same footprint as a standard unit
TTP LabTech has announced what it modestly calls another masterstroke of ingenuity; the Compound Double-Density (D2) sample store that can hold up to twice the number of samples as the original Compound in exactly the same footprint.
By storing two shorter microtubes (0.35ml instead of the standard 1.0ml) in each hole of Compound's carousels, the capacity of each Compound D2 unit is doubled to 200,000 tubes.
As with Compound, samples are sent to, and retrieved from, the store using compressed air rather than robotic arms, saving space and minimising moving parts.
Each individual tube can still be cherry-picked and delivered within an average of five seconds for the standard tubes (eight seconds for 0.35ml tubes), and maintaining this rapid access is where the inventive design comes into play.
On retrieval, both tubes from the one carousel hole are blown up to the top of the Compound D2 unit.
The tube that isn't required is clamped in the airlock valve.
The selected tube is then delivered as usual and the tube that is not required is moved back to its storage location.
Importantly, because this process happens within the unit's self-contained environment (down to -20C, under nitrogen), the non-selected tube is never exposed to the outside environment.
In addition, Compound D2's double capacity means that researchers can use larger numbers of the smaller volume tubes so that each tube is re-used less, effectively eliminating unnecessary freeze-thaw cycles. "We are constantly looking at ways of developing our products to give customers what they need - increased capacity and throughput" said Jas Sanghera, TTP LabTech's commercial director.
"Compound D2 does just that, and with its self-contained environment can be located in just about any lab, without expensive conversion."
