Speedy Automated Solid Phase Extraction System

Efficient and Flexible Automated SPE with Positive Pressure

• TOOLS MENU
• Probes
• Liquid Handling
• Powder Handling
• Weighing
• Gripper
• Capping-Decapping
• Vortexing - Mixing
• Extraction - Filtration
• Bar Code
• Imaging
• Temperature Control
• Evaporation
• pH
• Racks - Labware
• Centrifugation
• Automation

The Zinsser Analytic Speedy is an automated Solid Phase Extraction system that can operate with 96-well format filter plates or with 1-5 ml cartridges. The SPEEDY can operate with either a vacuum-based SPE system or a positive pressure system that addresses the inherent drawbacks of the 96-well format that is traditionally run with vacuum.

With 4 independent probes, Speedy automatically conditions and washes the sorbent by adding the reagents through the probes and applying a controlled vacuum to the sorbent or filtration block. The samples are pipetted by the probes from tubes, microplates or any other sample container, directly or after dilution on top of the separation material. They are processed with positive pressure (nitrogen or compressed air) through the well under a user-defined and software- controlled flow rate and are collected in a 96-well receiving plate or rack of vials. Hence, Speedy can handle difficult sample materials (viscous samples, sera, plasma, cell culture materials) automatically and reproducibly. The variability of the flow rate provides optimum separation conditions.

• Automates the entire workflow for Solid Phase Extraction and filtration
• Handles all commercially available filter plates, columns and cartridges (1, 3, 6 to 10 ml) & filter disks
• Processes samples depending on consistency (plasma, sera, cell culture materials, viscous samples)
• Controls the extraction process
• Optional heating and cooling, automated vial closure, evaporation, pH-measurement and adjustment

The Speedy platform is configured with four variable-spacing probes and a robotic gripper. The gripper can remove the manifold, store it temporarily, place the collection plate on the vacuum box, then return the manifold for the final extraction step. Pulsed vacuum is then applied via the WinLissy software.

Performing vacuum-driven SPE with 96-well format filter plates is a suitable method if all samples are of uniform consistency, however this method can present some inherent problems that can be difficult to overcome with tough samples such as plasma or other biofluids. These problems are mainly due to the mechanism of attempting to pull a uniform vacuum through all 96 positions.

• Requires the use of an entire filter plate even if less than 96 samples need to be run. Even if only a few rows or columns of the filter are used, the change in flow dynamics in those wells after the extraction process will make it difficult to re-use the plate for the unused positions, resulting in extra expense.
• If one well clears (all liquid is pulled out) before the others due to varying flow dynamics, the extraction efficiency for the entire plate will be compromised. This is due to the fact that the vacuum will tend to expend itself through the path of least resistance, which will be through the cleared well, resulting in greatly reduced vacuum to all other wells.
• Cross-contamination can occur at the collection plate due to vortexing effects near the bottom tips of the filter plate.

These problems can lead to low recoveries and variable results when using vacuum-based SPE filtration methods.

Speedy can overcome these problems by using positive pressure applied from the top instead of vacuum. The system is configured with 2-channel probes that can be used to deliver either liquid or gas (usually nitrogen). The probes pick up special cartridge adapters or pressure spots that are then placed directly on top of the SPE cartridge. The system can work with 1, 3, or 5 ml SPE cartridges and also plate-formats in this manner. The cartridge adapter forms a seal within the SPE cartridge allowing the probe to pressurize the internal environment. The positive pressure technique provides the additional benefit of keeping the sample in an inert environment, which is particularly useful for samples that are sensitive to oxidation.

Speedy enhances the positive pressure technique by using digital pressure control and independent active monitoring of the pressure within each cartridge. The initial applied pressure is kept lower so that splashing does not occur within the cartridge. The pressure is then increased to a steady level for the extraction phase. The software will recognize the pressure drop that occurs when the cartridge is cleared of liquid and can shut down pressure independently for each cartridge, preventing unnecessary compression of the filter be and drying-out of samples.

With the positive pressure system optimal and reproducible extraction conditions for each sample are assured, regardless of the sample viscosity, filter variations, or other variable conditions. The result is finally an automated SPE system that can produce large numbers of SPE extractions without operator intervention, removing the tedium of manual SPE lab work.

Typical vacuum SPE: Recommended collection height places cartridge tips above the wells of the receiving plate.	Typical vacuum SPE: Cross-contamination can occur during vacuum application due to localized splashing near top of receiver plate wells.	Speedy: Tight seal of cartridge adapter to the SPE cartridge allows positive pressurization via the probe and eliminates cross-contamination between samples.

It is also possible to automate liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). LLE with various solvents is also available on SPEEDY using either a single tube vortexer for large volume extractions, or a multiposition vortexer for smaller volumes, both of which can vortex up to 1800rpm. Solvents are dispensed rapidly via a 6 way-valve. SPEEDY detects the different heights of the organic / aqueous phases and aspirates the phase of interest accordingly. SPEEDY can also prepare the chromatography vials required for the analysis of extracted analytes; preparing any dilutions required, sealing the vials, and finally the option to load samples directly from the workbench through an injection port.

Another common sample preparation method is a single-step filtration of the sample, typically accomplished by pushing the sample liquid through a membrane of cartridge disk. We can adapt any type of filtration media of your choice using custom racks to automate the filtration process.

Zinsser automated liquid handling platforms are unique on the market because of the selection of high-performance tools that can be installed on the deck. The ability to select from this list of tools allows the user to configure a system that will fully automate the required application, whether it requires liquid handling, powder handling, weighing, heating, cooling, vortexing, pressurization, vacuum, or almost anything that can be imagined.

Specifications

Robotic System Configuration

• Equipped with 4 stainless steel single channel pipetting probes, independent variable spacing between the
  probes (min.8mm, max. 340mm)
• 4 precision syringe pumps with syringes (500ul, 1ml, 2.5ml, or 5ml)
• High pipetting precision better than 1% at 10% syringe volume. Minimum pipetting volume 5µl.
• Liquid level detection at each probe.
• 1 set of pressure spots.
• Active wash station.
• High-Flow 6-way valve for 6 system liquids.
• Vacuum box for 96-well SPE-block or cartridge rack.
• Software controlled pulsed vacuum.
• Software controlled positive pressure.
• Software package WinSPEEDY.
• Complete with PC, keyboard and TFT monitor.

Dimensions

• 900 x 710 x 550 mm (WxDxH)
• 1200 x 710 x 550 mm (WxDxH) optional
• 2000 x 710 x 550 mm (WxDxH) optional
  

Options

• Sample Identification
• Vial Closure
• Evaporation
• pH-measurement & Adjustment
• Temperature Controlled Filtration
• Flexible Labware