Mixing represents one of the key factors in terms of quality and robustness of all kind of assays and proper mixing appears to be crucial for accurate, consistent and reproducible results. Efficient mixing can help to reduce reaction times and improve compound solubilisation.
With its highly innovative Advalytix products Olympus provides a broad range of mixing devices for a variety of different applications. Key applications include mixing low-volume immunoassays and concentrated drug compounds injected into cell based assays via nanodispensers such as the LabCyte Echo. All of them are based on our patented SAW technology providing a whole range of benefits like:

• No risk of cross-contamination
• No robotics needed for stirring
• Stirring at any process step, even while detecting
• No cleaning of external stirring device necessary
• No moving parts
• Maintenance-free
• Wireless power supply
• Customizable geometries
• Easy to integrate
• Silent
• Vibration-free

For low-volume mixing in microplates Olympus developed the PlateBooster, our highly innovative contactless mixers for 96 and 384-well MTPS which provides a vibration free rapid and gentle agitation and eliminates any risk of contamination or spillage. The PlateBooster is perfect for integration into automated liquid handling systems meaning that pipetting and mixing can be performed simultaneously. Our system integration and distribution partner HighRes Biosolutions has integrated our PB384 SAW mixer into their MicroStir, a fully automated mixing platform for 384 and 1536-well MTPs. For more information read also about our PlateBooster384 in Drug Discovery World (2007/8).

For microarrays as well as applications like Fluorescence in situ hybrisation (FISH), Comparative genomic hybridisation on Chromosomes (CGH), Chromosome staining, and Immuno-histochemistry (IHC) Olympus provides the SlideBooster, a market leading line of active microarray hybridization stations.

The same SAW technology drives our CellEvator, a custom mixer to agitate samples for the Becton Dickinson FACSAria™. allowing for gentle, non-contact mixing that does not harm life cells.

Advalytix offers custom SAW design services and is ready to negotiate OEM agreements for SAW solutions. Many of our customers start their feasibility studies with our single well SST4 or one of our MTP mixers PB96 or PB384.

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