Bead/Cell Mixing Reservoirs

Keeping resins, assay beads, SPA beads, glass beads and cells in suspension while they are being pipetted to microplate wells is very important if reproducible results are to be obtained.  It is also important to do this with the smallest dead volume possible when the reagents are very expensive.  The unique V&P Scientific Bubble Paddle Reservoir mixing systems (US Patent #6,461,034 & European Union Patent #1,314,471) provide a very simple and inexpensive way of accomplishing this goal.  Whether you are using a 4 tip, an 8 tip, a 96 or 384 pipetting head, there is a mixing reservoir for you.

Endorsement

Here is what one of our customers at a major Pharmaceutical company had to say about our 384 Bubble Paddle Reservoir system  "The reservoir is really the best thing that I have found for YSi SPA beads which immediately fall out of solution when not mixed" ..... The bubble paddle is essential for YSi beads." 

The blue dye in the photo on the right illustrates the contours we have machined into the bottom of the stirrer.  These unique contours coupled with unique Bubble Paddle results in very vigorous stirring of the liquid contents in the reservoir.  The unique feature of the Bubble Paddle Reservoirs is their exclusive design that eliminates "fall out zones" where particulates fall out of solution that are so prevalent with other mixing reservoirs.  Even solutions as viscous as honey (15,000 centistokes) are easily stirred.

The VP 756, VP 756A, VP 756A-2, VP 750 and VP 755 Bubble Paddle Reservoirs all must be driven by one of our many Magnetic Alligator Tumble Stirrers.  One of these stirrers can power several Bubble Paddle Reservoirs at the same time. 

The Bubble Paddles are constructed of parylene coated passivated stainless steel.  The conformal parylene coating around the stainless steel is used to prevent Fe ions from interfering with chemical reactions. 

The 9 Bubble Paddle reservoirs are constructed from autoclaveable polypropylene.

For chemical resistance properties of Polypropylene and other commonly used plastics follow this link.

We also have Bubble Paddle Reservoirs to  stir magnetic beads.

Download video of Bubble Paddle in action
(mpeg movie- 685KB)

Press the play button to view the video in a flash format, flash must be installed, or click the download link to download a mpeg version.

The Bubble Paddles for the reservoir are made with magnetic stainless steel and have PTFE bearings at the ends which fit into locating bearing notches in the reservoir.  This keeps the Bubble Paddles in precise location in the reservoir and prevents them from touching the bottom of the reservoir.  This latter feature is important when stirring fragile mammalian cells.

The photo to the right demonstrates a VP 581B SBS Adaptor Plate attached to a VP 756 Reservoir. This allows for the VP 756, VP 756A,  to be fitted to any SBS footprint.

VP 750-13-AL

The VP 750-13-AL to the right is made from anodized aluminum and is used to keep the contents warm and suspended.  The aluminum's superior heat conductive properties are very useful in keeping  molten agarose containing cells in a liquid state prior to dispensing to a another cooler media where the agarose will solidify around the cells.  We have placed a brown liquid in the bottom of the reservoir so you can visualize the ducting pattern in the bottom of the reservoir better.

VP 750

The VP 750 Bubble Paddle reservoir is used in conjunction with 96 pipetors on robotic work stations or with 96 pin tools.

The center to center distance between the 13 bubbles on the paddle was designed on 9 mm centers so that the pins from 96 pin Replicators or tips from 8 by 12 pipetting systems, will fit in the nodes between the bubbles on the paddle blades.  This spacing allows for continuous stirring while samples are being taken even from the bottom of the reservoir. 

Reservoir Specifications:
144 mm long, 91 mm wide, 50 mm tall
Reservoir height = 43 mm**
Reservoir volume = 370 ml
Dead volume = 10 ml

**Custom reservoirs with less height can easily be made to accommodate shorter pipet tips.

VP 710C1-ALPFX

The photo on the right illustrates how we made some simple modifications to a
VP 710C1 and mounted it on it's side under one of our FXALP-PM plate holders for the FX and placed the VP 750-PTFE on top.  Follow this link for more information.

VP 756A-2

The VP 756A-2 with its 2 bubble paddles is used when larger volumes need to be resuspended for pipeting on an 8 strip pipetor.
 

VP 750D & VP 750PTFE

The 96 Tumble Bubble Paddle Reservoirs are made with Delrin VP 750D or with  PTFE VP 750PTFE.  The Delrin reservoir is not autoclaveable but more economical then the autoclaveable PTFE  reservoir.

The Bubble Paddles are constructed of parylene coated passivated stainless steel.  The conformal parylene coating around the stainless steel is used to prevent Fe ions from interfering with chemical reactions. 

Modification of Bubble Paddle Reservoirs to Attach the SBS Footprint

All of our Bubble Paddle Reservoirs can be mounted on a polypropylene block with SBS microplate dimensions (VP 581B).  Mounting is done by drilling and tapping holes in the bottom of the reservoir.  When ordering your reservoir also order VP 581B-1 and your reservoir will be attached to a VP 581B SBS feature.  This will allow your Bubble Paddle Reservoir to be placed in the portrait position of the following Tumble Stirrers VP 710C-1, VP 710C1-7, VP 710G6, VP 710MXL7T, VP 710MXM7T

 The advantages of the SBS feature on the bottom of the reservoir is two fold: 

1. It will the position the reservoir so a robotic pipettor will be able to place the pipet tips in the correct locations between the bubble paddles. 

2.  The reservoir can be taken off the deck and replaced in exactly the same position.

VP 750D-SBS

The VP 750D-SBS version is designed to be placed on the microplate holding plate used with  VP 710C-1, VP 710C1-7, VP 710G6, and VP 710MXL7T Tumble Stirrers.  The bottom of the reservoir is sculpted to fit into the "Portrait" SBS plate holding feature we have incorporated onto these Tumble Stirrers decks.

The advantages of the SBS feature on the bottom of the reservoir is two fold: 

1. It will the position the reservoir so a robotic pipettor will be able to place the pipet tips in the correct locations between the bubble paddles. 

2.  The reservoir can be taken off the deck and replaced in exactly the same position.

Also available in PTFE, as VP 750PTFE-SBS.

The photo to the right illustrates the bottom on the reservoir and the SBS    (127.7 mm by 85.5 mm) feature we have machined into the bottom surface.

Reservoir Specifications:
144 mm long, 91 mm wide, 50 mm tall
Reservoir height = 43 mm**
Reservoir volume = 370 ml
Dead volume = 10 ml

By placing locating features on the bottom of the Tumble Stirrer, it can be located precisely on the deck of many robotic platforms.  The VP 710G6 shown to the right has two locating pins in the bottom plate which register the Stirrer to a PerkinElmer EP3 robot deck.  Consequently this registration will result in the "pick points" in the VP 750D-SBS being positioned precisely under the EP3 pipet tips for that deck position. 

Placing a locating feature in the bottom plate of one of our Tumble Stirrers is a custom service we provide.  Just send us a drawing or a deck tile from your robotic platform.

The VP 710F Rotary Tumble Stirrers  shown  on the right are small enough to comfortably fit on or under the deck of most robotic workstations and stir the contents of one or more Tumble Bubble Paddle Reservoir.

VP 750P-ECON-2

The VP 750P-ECON-2 96 Tumble  Economy Bubble Paddle Reservoir is used in conjunction with 96, 8 or 12 pipetting heads.  This reservoir is constructed of autoclaveable polypropylene.  The VP 750P-Econ-2 differs from our VP 750D in several respects:

1. It is smaller and has the same SBS foot print as a microplate (127.7 mm x 85.5 mm).  This allows it to be placed in standard microplate deck tiles without modification.  Just place one of our Tumble Stirrers under the robot deck and keep cells and beads in suspension while you pipet them into microplates.
    

2. Each Bubble Paddle rests in a easy to construct groove instead of the complex ducting design used to increase stirring efficiency.  The stirring efficiency in the groove is sufficient for keeping cells and light beads in suspension, but not glass SPA beads. 
    

3. There are only 11 Bubbles per Paddle.
    

4. The top of the reservoir has a feature that accepts a standard microplate lid.

Reservoir Specifications:
127.7mm long, 85.5 mm wide, 50 mm tall
Reservoir height = 46 mm

Reservoir depth = 39 mm
Reservoir volume = 275 ml
Dead volume = 7 ml*

* = Depends on aliquot volume,  but with very small aliquots basically all but 4 ml can be recovered.

VP 750P-ECON-4

The VP 750P-ECON-4 96 Tumble  Economy Bubble Paddle Reservoir is used in conjunction with 96, 8 or 12 pipetting heads.  This system used the VP 792D disposable polypropylene Nalgene reservoir that we also use with our Cybio mixing system. It is autoclaveable .  The VP 750P-Econ-4 also differs from our VP 750D in several respects:

1. It uses the Nalgene disposable reservoir and has the same SBS foot print as a microplate (127.7 mm x 85.5 mm).  This allows it to be placed in standard microplate deck tiles without modification.  We have an aluminum bearing frame system that fits into the bottom of the reservoir and keeps the Bubble Paddles suspended off the reservoir bottom.  Just place one of our many VP 710 series Tumble Stirrers under the robot deck and keep cells and beads in suspension while you pipet them into microplates.
    

2. Each Bubble Paddle rests in a bearing notch of the aluminum frame and is suspended above the flat botttom of the reservoir.  The stirring efficiency  is sufficient for keeping cells and light beads in suspension, but not glass SPA beads. 
    

3. There are only 11 Bubbles per Paddle.
    

4. The top of the reservoir accepts a standard microplate lid.

Reservoir Specifications:
127.7mm long, 85.5 mm wide, 40 mm tall
Reservoir height = 40 mm

Reservoir depth = 36 mm
Reservoir volume = 280 ml
Dead volume = 10 ml *

* = Depends on aliquot volume.

The photo series  on the right illustrates how the aluminum frame can be sterilely placed into the reservoir. 

The VP 750P-ECON-4 consists of six components: 1 VP 750P-ECON-4F aluminum bearing frame, 4 VP 757AFe-1 stainless steel Bubble Paddles with 11 Bubbles each, and one 280 ml Nalgene disposable polypropylene reservoir.  The later is also sold separately in sterile case lots of 40 as the  VP 792D

VP 751AL

The VP 751AL version is designed to be placed on SBS dimensioned robot deck tiles with V&P Tumble stirrer under the robot deck.  The bottom of the reservoir is sculpted to fit into the "Landscape" orientation of an SBS plate.

The advantages of the SBS feature on the bottom of the reservoir is four fold: 

1.   The aluminum body conducts the heat or cold efficiently to keep the stirred contents either hot or cold when place on a heater/chiller block such as the VP 747.

2.    The Landscape orientation lends itself to many robot deck orientations.

3.    It will position the reservoir so a robotic pipettor will be able to place the pipet tips in the correct locations between the bubble paddles. 

4.  The reservoir can be taken off the deck and replaced in exactly the same position.

5.  The reservoir is protected with an hydrophilic coating that facilitates collection of precious reagents and minimizes dead volume.

Reservoir Specifications:
127.7 mm long, 85.5 mm wide, 43 mm tall
Reservoir height = 40 mm**
Reservoir volume = 270 ml
Dead volume = 2 ml***

**   = To the bottom of the pipet depressions.

*** = Depends on aliquot volume,  but with very small aliquots basically all but 2ml can be recovered.

VP 750-AL

The VP 750AL version is designed to be placed on SBS dimensioned robot deck tiles with V&P Tumble stirrer under the robot deck.  The bottom of the reservoir is sculpted to fit into the "Portrait" orientation of an SBS plate.

The advantages of the SBS feature on the bottom of the reservoir is four fold: 

1.   The aluminum body conducts the heat or cold efficiently to keep the stirred contents either hot or cold when place on a heater/chiller block such as a Peltier device.

2.    The Portrait orientation lends itself to many robot deck orientations.

3.    It will position the reservoir so a robotic pipettor will be able to place the pipet tips in the correct locations between the bubble paddles. 

4.   The reservoir can be taken off the deck and replaced in exactly the same position.

5.   The reservoir is protected with a Ni-Lube (Electro less Nickel and PTFE coating) to provide superior lubrication to the bearings.

Reservoir Specifications:
127.7 mm long, 85.5 mm wide, 43 mm tall
Reservoir height = 40 mm**
Reservoir volume = 270 ml
Dead volume = 2 ml***

**   = To the bottom of the pipet depressions.

*** = Depends on aliquot volume,  but with very small aliquots basically all but 2ml can be recovered.

VP 750-AL with VP 540A blotting media and VP 540AC lint free blotting media which can be used to serve as a lid or shield photo sensitive reagents from the light.

The photo to the right illustrates the heat exchange fins on the bottom of the reservoir to facilitate the exchange of heat to the Peltier chiller.

VP 750-AL on a VP 710C1.

VP 755D

The 384 Tumble Bubble Paddle reservoir is used in conjunction with 384 robotic pipetting systems or with 384 pin tools.  The pipet tips or pins remove liquid from the elevated columns between the bubbles while the paddles continue to spin.  The bottom of the reservoir is ducted to conform to the paddles.   The conformation of the Bubble Paddle with the ducting in the reservoir bottom combine to achieve maximum liquid movement and the re-suspension of solids (beads, cells and particulates). 

Incorporation of this stirrer into a robotic system to process SPA bead assays was presented at the 2003 MIPTEC meeting in Basil Switzerland.

The 384  Tumble Bubble Paddle Reservoirs are available either in Delrin (not  autoclaveable) VP 755D or in aluminum which is autoclaveable VP 755AL. 

Reservoir Specifications:
134 mm long, 86 mm wide

Reservoir height = 32 mm tall
Reservoir depth = 29 mm**
Reservoir volume = 180 ml
Dead volume = 10 ml

**Custom reservoirs with less height can easily be made to accommodate shorter pipet tips.

VP 755D-1

The VP 755D-1 will replace the VP 755D for most applications.  The difference between the two versions is that the VP 755D-1 has an SBS dimension feature machined into the bottom so that it can simply be placed on the portrait deck positions of our tumble stirrers or the deck positions of many different robot platforms where an Aligator Tumble Stirrer is placed underneath the deck position.

VP 755D-1 Reservoir Specifications:

134 mm long, 86 mm wide at the top and 85.48 mm wide at the bottom

Reservoir height = 32 mm tall

Reservoir depth = 30 mm**

Reservoir volume = 180 ml

Dead volume = 10 ml

**Custom reservoirs with less height can easily be made to accommodate shorter pipet tips.

  Bubble Paddle Magnetic Clutch Drive

The newest of the Bubble Paddle Reservoirs does not require a Magnetic Alligator Tumble Stirrer.  It is powered directly by a small electric motor through a unique magnetic clutch we designed.  This magnetic clutch powers the Bubble Paddle right through the wall of the reservoir.  Just another new innovation from the engineers at V&P. The advantage of this system is that it is more economical and the drive system has a smaller footprint than the Tumble Bubble Paddle reservoirs.   This magnetic clutch and motor is very powerful as it will stir honey at 4 degrees C.

The Magnetic Clutch Drive system has also lead to the development of Magnetic Clutch Reservoirs compatible with 96 and 384 liquid handlers.   They are described in more detail on the Bubble Paddle Magnetic Clutch Drive page. 

Download video of Clutch Drive Bubble Paddle in action
(mpeg movie- 660KB)

Download video of Clutch Drive Bubble Paddle in action
(mpeg movie- 1.6MB)

Press the play button to view the video in a flash format, flash must be installed, or click the download link to download a mpeg version.

  Replacement Bubble Paddles

Replacement Bubble Paddles are available in 7, 9, 11, 13 and 25 bubble versions.  Standard material is passivated stainless steel with PTFE hubs.  The Bubble Paddles are also available encapsulated in parylene.  The parylene forms a solvent proof barrier around the stainless steel.  Parylene encapsulation (coating) is used for applications that may be sensitive to Fe ions.

Table of Reservoir & Bubble Paddle Compatibility

* = Column format
** = Row format