• Simultaneous pipet and read enables fast kinetic assays such as calcium flux in multiple wells.
• User changeable 96-, 382-, and 1536-pipettor heads easily change assay formats depending on your throughput needs.
• Contact based elastomeric liquid transfer for 1536 pipettor provides accurate pipetting of compounds and cells.
• Configurable pipettor height and dispense speeds ensure proper mixing without disturbing cell monolayers or non-adherent cells.
• Choice of fluorescent or luminescence cameras for increased assay flexibility
• Luminescence camera performs both fluorescence and luminescence detection for assay flexibility.
• Fluorescence camera enables use of homogeneous FLIPR calcium and membrane potential kits.
• User configurable optics supports rapid optic changes in a multi-user multi-assay environment .
• Multiple read modes support both single wavelength and ratiometric assays.
• Drag-and-drop software interface easily builds multiple step protocols for easy protocol definition.
• Software displays only options relevant to the instrument configuration and eliminates the opportunity to make protocol errors.
• Configure and switch between fluorescence or luminescence read modes for assay flexibility.
• User-defined protocols can include up to four wash solvents to automate cleaning of cell handling system.
• Viewing signal traces, EC₅₀ curves, and Z factors on the fly provides quick data analysis without having to export data to another software program.
• Configurable data export in either time-sequence or well-based format of single or multiple data files enables analysis by Microsoft Excel, Spotfire, or other analysis program.
• Cell suspension system with adjustable stirring speed, pump, and pipetting parameters facilitates optimization with different cell types.
• Cell suspension system eliminates the need for separate compound plate during Aequorin assays.
• FLIPR TetraCycler Plate Handler enables microplate and pipette tip changes and facilitates integration to laboratory robotics systems.
• SynchroMax ET Plate Handling Robot increases assay throughput and allows unattended operation.

For more information click on the following links:

• Excitation Optics
• Emission Optics
• Emission Filters
• Fluidics
• Plate Stage
• General Specifications
• Cell Suspension System

Excitation Optics

* For additional wavelengths, refer to the Accessories Tab [link]

Emission Optics

Emission Filters

Fluidics

Plate Stage:  Four positions in addition to tipwash station

General Specifications

Cell Suspension System

This option consists of a user-installable cell reservoir and an external cell module for flask storage, light protection and mixing.  Cells are re-circulated to the spinner flask to minimize cell volume used.

FLIPR Tetra System utilizes Molecular Devices' ScreenWorks® system control software to define and run experimental protocols. Using a drag-and-drop interface, protocols can be easily set up to include,

• Fluorescent or luminescent read modes
• Simultaneous transfer of 96, 384, or 1536 liquid or cells in suspension
• Complex quadrant, multiple aspirations, or multiple dispensing liquid handling
• Single or ratiometric kinetic cell-based reading
• Tip washing with up to two solvents
• Cell suspension delivery with automatable cleaning protocols
• Simple-to-create automation protocols

ScreenWorks Software is both flexible and user-friendly. During protocol set-up, only relevant options are displayed, based on the installed fluidics and optics hardware, making it easy to choose parameters that are right for each assay. Live and information-rich data in 96-, 384- or 1536-well plate format is displayed while testing. Specific wells can be grouped for analysis or data export purposes. Graphs and tables can be easily copied and pasted into documents, presentations or worksheets, and different reductions can be selected for group statistics, making results readily accessible.

FLIPR Calcium 5 Kit:  Muscarinic Receptor Antagonism

To support GPCR and ion channel assays, Molecular Devices, Inc. offers assay kits optimized for use on the FLIPR® Tetra System. These kits include everything required to successfully run these assays on the FLIPR Tetra System. For GPCRs the following kits are available:

• FLIPR Calcium Assay Kits

For more information about accessories, click on the link below

• Field Installations
• Pipettor Heads
• Pipetting Consumables
• Optical Accessories
• FLIPR Tetra Cycler
• SynchroMax ET
• Robotic Integration Partners
• Cell Suspension System and Consumables

Field Installations

Pipettor Heads

Pipetting Consumables

 ¹ Please contact your local Molecular Devices Sales Representative for details regarding this configure to-order item. 

Optical Accessories

 FLIPR Tetracycler  and Robotic Integration

For the ultimate in throughput, the FLIPR Tetra System can be interfaced to a variety of laboratory robotics systems .  To facilitate this, the optional FLIPR Tetracycler platehandler ) can be installed in the FLIPR Tetra System to exchanges microplates and pipette tips between the landing pad of the FLIPR System and third party robotics system.  By changing plates internally without stopping the assay, the FLIPR Tetra can read as many as 20 plates per hour for maximum throughput (e.g., 2 minute read time and exchange of one source plate and tip rack).  But when needed, the FLIPR Tetracycler has the ability to exchange one read plate and up to 12 source plates and pipette tips during a single experiment to handle the most complex protocols. 

 SynchroMax^TM ET

The SynchroMax ET is a walk-away solution to increase the unattended throughput for the FLIPR Tetra System.  The SynchroMax ET features six storage stacks, each holding up to 40 standard micro-plates, and provides an ample inventory of plates for extended continuous exchange of read and source plates.  The capacity of the SynchroMax ET allows the FLIPR Tetra System to perform complex experiments where multiple plates are exchanged, such as in quadrant experiments.  When combined with the FLIPR Tetracycler, plates can be exchanged with the SynchroMax ET while the system continues to acquire data.  This enables the use of more plates than available stage positions and decreases the time between assays and increases throughput.  The SynchroMax ET seamlessly interfaces with ScreenWorks® and provides a single, user-intuitive interface.  Using a drag-and-drop interface, complex assays are easily created and saved for later use. Click on the SynchroMax ET for more information

FLIPR Tetra Instrument Robotics Integration Partners 

Optional Cell Suspension System  and Consumables

An optional cell management system for the FLIPR Tetra System simplifies luminescent calcium mobilization assays and increases throughput by eliminating the need to plate cells and the need for separate compound plates during aequorin assays. Cells are held in spinner flask which maintains a uniform cell suspension and promotes assay robustness. During the assay, cells are pumped to the reservoir for pipetting and returned to the spinner flask. Adjustable stir speed, pump speeds and pipetting parameters simplify the optimization of cell handling for different cell lines.  A variety of flask sizes are available to scale the volume for assay development through high throughput screening. Requires Part number 03010-5339 field installation of Cell Suspension system.