Acorn AutoFill Reservoirs
Acorn AutoFill Reservoirs are reagent troughs that keep themselves filled. Each reservoir has an embedded sensor which monitors its liquid level. When needed, a controller refills the reservoir by adding reagent via a miniature pump. If source reagents run out and the reservoirs cannot refill, no problem, the controller can be configured to send emails or raise events enabling your automation software to notify you and pause a run.
Reservoirs are made from inert material, are high-recovery, low dead-volume and come with three sensor options. Standard optical sensors are ideal for biochemical reagents whereas a stainless steel ultrasonic sensor option is preferable for use with solvents such as DMSO. When sterile conditions are required, a non-contact, externally mounted adhesive sensor is available. Any of the sensor options can be used to convert third party mixing reservoirs to AutoFills.
The Acorn AutoFill Reservoir can be used stand alone, requiring no computer control, or they can be controlled through provided software. The AutoFill Control Application controls up to 12 reservoirs simultaneously and the provided .NET API can be easily integrated into any automation control scheduling software. Acorn AutoFill Reservoirs can also be controlled externally through simple TTL logic.
Developed and used in a production screening (HTS) environment for the past 5 years, AutoFill Reservoirs have proven themselves invaluable. These platform independent reservoirs have been used with PerkinElmer MiniTrak, Agilent Vertical Pipetting Stations (VPrep), and Beckman Coulter Multimek. They guaranty a consistent and timely supply of precious reagents and can hold chilled or light sensitive reagents protected until just needed. These self filling Reservoirs provide peace of mind that your automated assay can run unattended.
