Automated Sampling
Collect samples down to 150 µl automatically
Completely automated
Program your sample collection and forget about it
Low volumes
Collect down to 150 µl per sample
Up to 20 samples at once
Perfect for temporal resolution
Need a microfluidic SME partner for your Horizon Europe project?
Automated sampling setup
If you have ever worried about overnight sample collection or have had to reschedule a day in the lab to fit the sample collection time within reasonable hours, you understand the value of a fully automated sampling unit. Our automated sampling device was designed to allow you to program your sample collection at the most convenient time.
It is especially adapted for perfusion experiments, in which you have a continuous or intermittent flow and want to collect data points at specific times. Below is presented a schematic using a pressure-driven flow controller, and a flow sensor connected to a microfluidic chip of your choice.
The chip outlet is then connected to the automated sampling unit (fraction collector), allowing the automatic collection of samples at defined time points. Once the samples are collected, they can be analyzed with the most suitable assay so you can unravel the details of how your molecules were secreted over time, as exemplified by the graph.
The pack contains:
Flow sensor (Galileo, MIC)
Software (Galileo user interface)
Microfluidic chip of your choice
Flow controller
Automated sampling unit (fraction collector)
The automated sampling unit is currently designed to fit 20 Eppendorf tubes and can collect down to 150 µl per sample. However, if you need to collect in larger reservoirs, do not hesitate to contact our team!
Check this application note describing how to set up the automated sampling system.
Automated sampling compatibility and applications
The automated sampling unit is compatible with:
Flow generation
Pressure-drive flow controllers
Syringe pumps
Microfluidic chips
PMMA device station
From mold development to high-resolution PMMA chip fabrication
✓ Fast process
✓ Multiple applications
✓ Simple and innovative setup
PMMA
Homemade devices, PDMS
Synvivo
Microfluidic ChipShop
Ibidi
And many more!
Applications and assays
Spectrometry
ELISA
Pharmacokinetics assays
Immunohistochemical and histopathological characterization
Toxicity assays
Albumin reabsorption
And many more!
Customize your pack
Our instruments can be added to different setups depending on your specific needs. In this light, our microfluidic specialists will advise you on the best instruments and accessories depending on your needs and will accompany you during the system’s setup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the instrument compatible with other reservoirs than Eppendorf tubes?
The current version is only compatible with Eppendorf tubes, but other options are being developed, such as for well-plates. If you need a different type of reservoir, contact us using the “talk to our experts” green button above.
What extra equipment is needed?
Besides the fluid flow equipment, such as the pressure-driven flow controller, flow sensor, and chip, you will need a computer to run the software to program the automated sample collection.
Does it only work with experiments under flow?
The automated sampling unit needs to be connected to a flow generator so the automation of the process is possible. Thus, it is best adapted to microfluidics and perfusion experiments. The experiments can have continuous or intermittent (stop/go) flow.
Funding and Support
The LIFESAVER and LOCAI projects helped develop this instrument. This project is funded by European Union’s H2020-LC-GD-2020-3, grant agreement No. 101036702 (LIFESAVER), the French National Research Agency (ANR), and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the frame of the 1st German-French Joint Call for proposals on Artificial Intelligence.
Products & Associated Accessories
FAQ - Automated Sampling
What is the Automated Sampling device? What is the type of research issue that this device solves?
In a perfusion experiment, the Automated Sampling device is a fraction collector that solves the time-resolved data without the burden of manual collection in collecting samples, it collects samples down to 150 µl automatically. This device is for you if you have ever stayed late in the lab at night just to collect a sample at a certain time. It can collect fluid samples at certain time intervals, allowing you to leave the lab while the automated sampling device continues the experiment at the predefined time.
What is the actual operation of the automatic collection?
The apparatus is placed at the end of a setup for a microfluidic perfusion experiment. This means that the fluid is pumped using a syringe pump or a pressure-controlled flow controller through your chip, through a flow sensor, and finally to the automated sampling unit. The fraction collector then diverts the exit flow to the next tube at a certain time.
In one sampling process, how many samples may it collect, and how small may each of those samples be?
The sampling equipment may collect a maximum of 20 different time points in a single unsupervised sampling process since it may currently accommodate a maximum of 20 Eppendorf tubes. The sampling equipment may collect a minimum of 150 µl of sample per tube, and this is good for the low rates of flow in a microfluidics investigation since the amount of fluid is low in nature and every microliter counts.
What kind of containers is it compatible with?
The automated sampling equipment currently in use is specially designed to accommodate regular Eppendorf tubes. Well plates and other containers may also be supported. You can contact our expert team if your situation is particularly different. They can offer assistance with a custom solution if you need a specific type of collecting container.
Does the gadget require a computer to function?
Yes, the automated sampling unit needs a computer to function, unlike some of the other devices in the system range, which operate independently. Also included is the Galileo user interface software, which is used to manage the scheduling of sample collection events. This is a simple requirement to prepare for, especially if you are using an incubator or a location where computer access is required to be arranged beforehand.
As opposed to continuous perfusion, can it handle experiments involving intermittent or stop-and-go flow?
The sample is ready to be analyzed in the appropriate assay to answer your research question as soon as it has been collected. Spectrometry, ELISA, pharmacokinetics, immunohistochemical and histological characterization, toxicity studies, as well as albumin reabsorption studies. Samples can be analyzed immediately or at a future time due to their being collected into regular Eppendorf tubes, so there are no special requirements other than those required of the assay being performed.
What kinds of downstream analysis are possible with the gathered samples?
Yes. Both continuous and intermittent flow regimes are described as being compatible with this device. This is important to experiments where flow is halted between collection events or where cells/tissues are exposed to intermittent stimulation. The only requirement is that a flow generator is included in the system; whilst automation logic relies on a functional system, it does not require continuous flow to occur throughout an experiment.
What kind of microfluidic chips is the system compatible with?
The automated sampling unit is compatible with chip.
- PMMA,
- Handmade devices & PDMS
- Synvivo
- Microfluidic ChipShop
- Ibidi
