Lateral Vortex Tumble Stirrers – A Different Orientation
We created the world’s first LATERAL VORTEX by simply standing a Vertical Tumble Stirrer on end using a VP 710C5-7A MICROPLATE TUMBLE STIRRER (USA Patent #7,484,880, European Union Patent #1,736,235 and German Patent #60 2006 026 122.5). Instead of tumbling a stir element in the vertical plane like our Alligator Tumble Stirrer, the Lateral Vortex Tumble Stirrer spins the stir elements by tumbling them laterally against a side wall of the vessel. This spinning motion produces a vortex cone in the liquid and efficiently mixes the contents of the liquid. This vortex cone is similar to the vortex cones produced by conventional horizontal magnetic stirrers however unlike the conventional horizontal stirrers which require a unique drive magnetic field under each vessel, the Lateral Vortex Tumble Stirrer because of its lateral wall tumbling action only requires one drive magnetic field to stir thousands of vessels. The Lateral Vortex Tumble Stirrers work best with round micro wells, or round tubes, vials, and bottles. Basically, our customers can convert our VP 710 series Tumble Stirrers into Lateral Vortex Stirrers by standing them on end with our accessory stands (VP 710C5-7A) which hold the stirrer vertically.
The Lateral Vortex Tumble Stirrer causes stir elements of all sizes and shapes to tumble laterally and create a vortex cone inside each well. The Lateral Vortex Tumble Stirrer will stir all types of microplates (24, 48, 96, 384 and even 1536 wells). It will also stir V and U bottom microplates, PCR plates, micro-centrifuge tubes, test tubes, vials and bottles. The only Stir elements that are not compatible with the Lateral Vortex Tumble Stirrer are the Stainless Steel Discs as the magnetic field in these stir elements is oriented through the diameter of the disc. These discs will simply spin in the wells causing little stirring action.
Advantages of the System
- Can stir multiple, vials, tubes, large vessels, and microplates simultaneously
- Complete stirring of large numbers of samples
- Uniformity of stirring of wells throughout the microplate
- Can run multiple experiments in parallel
- Get more reactions per gram of starting material
- Will stir even viscous solutions (honey & glycerol)
- No cross contamination – wells do not have to be sealed
- Simple to operate
- Customizable to robotic systems
- Can stir continuously for years without maintenance
- Computer control option is available
