Pumps, valves, probes, fittings, tubing and sensing components for precise sample preparation, reagent handling and instrument fluidics.
Syringe Pumps for Multichannel Reagent Distribution
Application guide · Reagent distribution
Multichannel reagent distribution is a capacity-and-throughput problem before it is a channel-count problem. For every channel, define the dose, number of destinations before refill, required simultaneity and whether the liquid can share valves, tubing or a wash station.
Engineering example: twelve 100 μL aliquots require 1.2 mL of delivered liquid before allowance for line filling, residual liquid or refill margin. A 1 mL syringe cannot complete that batch without refill; a larger syringe may complete it but still requires verification of the 100 μL working dose on each channel.[1][2]
01Define the liquid, receiver and complete duty before selecting the component
Translate the analytical task into an engineering duty
Use case
Inputs to define
Decision supported
R1/R2 distribution
Dose per vessel, reagent stability and number of vessels per batch
Use dedicated wetted paths when reagent interaction or carryover requires it
Microplate working reagent
Well count, dose, plate time and skipped wells
Decide whether channels operate in parallel or one outlet moves sequentially
Independent channels
Allowed channel-to-channel bias and refill synchronization
Record one acceptance result per channel, not one pooled result
02Calculate the working point and the margin the instrument really needs
Calculations to complete before prototype selection
Quantity
How to define it
Why it matters
Batch volume
dose × destinations between refills
Add line fill and reserve before choosing capacity
Throughput
channels × dispense events ÷ allowed batch time
Includes valve movement, settling and refill
Reagent loss
prime + purge + residual + rejected first dose
Use in reagent-consumption and walk-away estimates
Use minimum, routine and maximum conditions rather than one nominal point. Include the first cycle after priming or idle, the lowest source level, the highest expected restriction and the actual receiving geometry. A nominal capacity, free-flow value or theoretical command increment is not an acceptance result.
03Map the task to a FOREACH configuration and the rest of the fluid path
04Program the full liquid cycle, including prime, wash and recovery
Confirm reagent identity→Prime each channel→Aspirate batch volume→Dispense scheduled aliquots→Refill before stroke limit→Wash or isolate for idle
A complete method cycle is more than the active delivery step
The exact physical order and parallel actions depend on the instrument. Retain each state in the control and verification plan.
Record valve states, motion, dwell, sensor windows and rejected recovery cycles. This makes throughput and liquid consumption auditable and prevents a fast component movement from being reported as the complete analyzer cycle.
05Design abnormal-state diagnosis before the fault occurs
Observed result, likely mechanism and useful next action
Observed condition
Likely mechanism
Engineering response
One channel drifts
Syringe, valve, tubing or nozzle difference
Compare isolated channel pressure and delivered volume
First wells differ after refill
Air, valve settling or incomplete prime
Define a recovery or reject-dose rule
Late wells decrease
Insufficient stroke budget or inlet starvation
Check remaining volume and source geometry
The controller should distinguish a recoverable event from a result-invalidating event. A retry is useful only after the original cause has been removed and the liquid path has returned to a verified state.
06Accept performance where the liquid is actually used
Minimum qualification plan for the integrated channel
Result
Where or how to measure
Acceptance question
Per-channel dose
Measure each channel at minimum/routine/maximum work point
Report mean, repeatability and channel bias
Batch result
First, middle and last destination
No systematic drift across the batch
Recovery
After refill, bottle change and planned idle
First accepted dose meets the method target
Test the exact liquid and complete wetted path at minimum, routine and maximum conditions.
Separate first-cycle, steady-state and post-idle results; do not average away recovery behavior.
Challenge the relevant fault and confirm the controller prevents an invalid result from being accepted.
Retain the configuration, software sequence, consumables and receiving-position result together as the qualification record.
