AquaMax DW4

Integrated Washer and Dispenser

Features

• Small footprint housing dispenser and washer in one system
• Low volume dispensing down to 0.5 µl for 384- and 1536-well formats
• Up to 4-fluid dispensing with separate channels
• Washing capability available in 96-, 384- or 1536-well formats—the only 1536 washer available

The AquaMax DW4 liquid handling system from Molecular Devices provides precise dispensing and thorough washing all in one instrument. The system handles a variety of plate formats for dispensing and plate washing—96-, 384- and 1536-well—and is the first to handle 1536-well microplate washing. AquaMax DW4 has been optimized to dispense from four different channels to accommodate up to four fluids.

Unique Design

The AquaMax DW4 system's small footprint houses a built-in vacuum and air pressure pump. No external vacuum system is needed. Each of the four separate reservoir bottles have their own fluid path to individual dispense heads, providing the system with the ability to dispense four different fluids into one microplate. A magnetic stirring mechanism is housed in the manifold to allow mixing of solutions in the first inlet reservoir bottle (Figure 1). The system is robotic-compatible with a robotic-friendly plate carriage and accessible RS-232 COM port (Figure 2).

		Figure 1. The system is equipped with a magnetic stirring mechanism, housed in the manifold, to mix dispensing fluids.

Flexibility

The flexibility of the instrument is evident with the Windows®-compatible software. The software is bi-directional and allows the user to view what is currently on the instrument, as well as set up new programs. Row selection offers the choice to dispense from a few rows or the complete plate. The software provides for the adjustment of liquid factor and aspiration probe height to allow for low residual volume, as well as configuration of users and microplates (Figure 3).

		Figure 3. The program file allows versatility when setting up dispense and aspiration steps. Row selection is flexible, allowing the user to skip rows, dispense different volumes and choose different solutions to dispense.

Versatility

The system can be configured with up to four dispense heads and one aspirate head. The liquid handling system accommodates 96-, 384- and 1536-well microplate formats. The system has a separate set of optimized heads to handle each plate type.

Usability

The AquaMax DW4 is a non-contact, fixed-tip dispenser and washer. The dispense and aspirate heads, working with the software, determine the configuration that ranges from 96- to 1536-well formats.

		Figure 2. The microplate carriage is designed for easy access by robotic arms.

Ordering Information

The AquaMax DW4 Liquid Handling System is available in three formats:

• 96-well format dispense head
• 384-well format dispense head
• 1536-well format dispense head

Call your Molecular Devices representative for configuration options and part numbers.

Specifications*

physical/chemical specifications
Dimensions (in) Dimensions (cm)	21 (L) x 9 (W) x 16.5 (H) 54 (L) x 23 (W) x 42 (H)
Weight	57.3 lbs. (26 kg)
Power Source	100/240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Operating Temperature	Room temperature
Operating humidity	20-80% relative humidity, non-condensing
Dispense/Aspirate Probes	Stainless steel 304
Dispense Mainfold	PET (polyethylene terephthlate)
Dispense Head	PET (polyethylene terephthlate)
Aspirate Head	Aluminum
Reservoir Bottles	Polypropylene
Tubing	Polypropylene, TPE
Tubing	Silicon waste tubing
PC Requirements	Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP .NET Framework 1.1 & Internet Explorer 5.01 or greater     (both included) 154 MB HD free space 96 MB RAM (256 MB for servers)
Interface Connections	RS-232
performance specifications
Plate Throughput	Up to 180 plates/hour
Dispense Accuracy	±50 nl at 1 µl (2 µl for 96-well)
Dispensing Range	1536-well format: 0.5-12 µl 384-well format: 0.5-120 µl 96-well format: 2.0-320 µl
Dispense Precision	<10% CV at 1.0 µl (typical)
Residual volume	<1 µl average/well

*Specifications subject to change.