Automation

Integrating Molecular Devices Plate Readers & Liquid Handlers with Partner Robots

As part of our commitment to providing seamless solutions to the life science and drug discovery community, Molecular Devices has launched an Automation Vendor Partnership Program.

By working with our partners throughout the different product development stages, Molecular Devices has developed the capacity to integrate our plate reader systems and liquid handlers with all leading partner robots. This "out-of-box" automation solution benefits customers by saving upfront integration time and resources. Please contact a Molecular Devices technical/sales representative at support@moldev.com to learn more about our integrated instrument systems or contact our partners directly.

molecular devices automation vendor partners

product families

• Microplate Readers
• FlexStation
• Analyst
• Liquid Handling Systems
• FLIPR Systems
• Cellular Imaging

Molecular Devices Microplate Readers with SoftMax® Pro Software

• SpectraMax M5/M5^e (five mode)
• SpectraMax M2/M2^e (dual mode)
• Gemini XPS and Gemini EM (fluorescence)
• SpectraMax Plus³⁸⁴ (absorbance)
• SpectraMax 190 (absorbance)
• SpectraMax® 340PC and 340PC³⁸⁴ (absorbance)
• VersaMax™ (absorbance)

SpectraMax plate readers include multimode readers, absorbance and fluorescence readers. All readers have similar footprints and are controlled and integrated through the same version of SoftMax Pro software. Therefore, changing assays between readers does not require a change in automation hardware and software.

SpectraMax readers with absorbance offer PathCheck sensor which enables the user to automatically normalize data to 1 cm cuvette readings enabling quantitation assays without a standard curve or pipettor validation.

Current Integration examples for SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro include:

Partner Robot/Software	MD Instrument/ Software	Application
Beckman Coulter Biomek 2000 and BioWorks software	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	Quantitation and normalization of nucleic acids
Beckman Coulter Biomek FX/NX	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	ELISA, only reader that fits on deck of the Biomek FX/NX
Beckman/Sagian Core System and ORCA Arm	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	Cell based, receptor binding, ELISA
Zymark Twister I and II	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	ELISA and other batch applications
Zymark LH	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	ELISA and other screening applications
Zymark Allegro	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	Pre-clinical/clinical applications
Thermo CRS Immuno Assay System	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	ELISA
Thermo CRS DNA amplification system	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	DNA/RNA purity
Thermo RapidStak	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	Assay workstation
Hudson Control PlateCrane/XL/XT plate handler and "WorkCells"	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	Various life science and HTS drug discovery assays
QIAGEN BioRobot 3000	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	DNA/RNA purity and quantification and normalization
Packard/PE MultiProBE II and WinPrep software	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	Solubility and permeability assays; nucleic acid purity, quantification and normalization assays
Tecan Genesis and FACTS	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	Various life science and drug discovery assays
Hamilton MICROLAB SWAP microplate handling robot	SpectraMax, Gemini, and SoftMax Pro	ELISA and other assays

FlexStation™

FlexStation and SoftMax Pro have been integrated with the Hamilton MICROLAB SWAP plate handler for automated Ca²⁺ assay development. A barcode reader has also been integrated with this system.

Partner Robot/Software	MD Instrument/ Software	Application
Beckman Coulter Biomek® FX-Based Core System Solution	FlexStation® II/SoftMax Pro	Cell-based assays
Thermo CRS Dimension 4	FlexStation®/SoftMax Pro	Calcium mobilization and membrane potential assays
Hamilton MICROLAB SWAP/Vector Software	FlexStation®/SoftMax Pro	Calcium mobilization and membrane potential assays
Hudson PlateCrane	FlexStation/SoftMax Pro	Calcium mobilization and membrane potential assays

Analyst® Systems

Analyst systems include Analyst HT and Analyst GT and are integrated using an ActiveX command suite.

Current integration examples for Analyst systems include:

Partner Robot/Software	MD Instrument/ Software	Application
Zymark Twister II, Allegro, and Staccato with CLARA or iLink	Analyst HT, Analyst GT, Acquest	Screening and other applications
Hudson Control PlateCrane/XL/XT and "WorkCells"	Analyst HT, Acquest	Various screening and batch processing applications
Thermo CRS Cell Based Assay System	Analyst HT, Acquest	Screening and other applications
Beckman BioMek FX and Sagian ORCA System with SAMI NT and SILAS	Analyst HT, Analyst GT, Acquest	Screening and other applications
Evotec EVOScreen uHTS platform with Bernstein software	Analyst GT, Acquest	1536-well screening and other applications
Tecan Genesis and FACTS	Analyst HT, Acquest	SNP applications and other screening applications

Liquid Handling Systems

• AquaMax DW4 96/384/1536 dispenser and washer
• Embla 384 cell washer

AquaMax® and Embla platforms offer widely-integrated, cost-effective and industry-leading liquid handling products.

The Embla Cell washer offers a versatile system cell-based assays. The AquaMax dispensers handle 96-, 384- and 1536-well microplates. They are ideal for a variety of applications, including dispensing solutions, beads, and cells down to volumes of 0.5 µl into 384- and 1536-well formats.

Current integration examples for AquaMax and Embla systems include:

Partner Robot/Software	MD Instrument/ Software	Application
Thermo RapidStak	AquaMax DW4	Assay workstation
Zymark Twister I and II, ALH system, PAM and CLARA software packages	AquaMax	ELISA applications
Hudson Control PlateCrane/XL/XT and "WorkCells"	AquaMax	Screening applications
Thermo CRS Assay System	AquaMax	Various applications
Sagian ORCA System with SAMI NT and SILAS	AquaMax	ELISA and screening assays
Tecan FACTS Robot	AquaMax	Application information not available

FLIPR® Systems

FLIPR^TETRA provides a unique method of monitoring Ca²⁺ ion influx and for measuring ion potential.

Current integration examples for FLIPR systems include:

Partner Robot/Software	MD Instrument/ Software	Application
SynchroMax ET for FLIPRTETRA	FLIPRTETRA	Calcum mobilization and membrane potential HTS assays
GNF Systems	FLIPR 3 and FLIPRTETRA	Calcum mobilization and membrane potential HTS assays
Velocity 11 BenchCel and BioCel	FLIPRTETRA/ScreenWorks	Calcum mobilization and membrane potential HTS assays
Zymark Staccato	FLIPR	Screening applications
Hudson Control PlateCrane/XL/XT	FLIPR and FLIPRTETRA	GPCR FLIPR assays in HTS
Thermo CRS Cell Based Assay System	FLIPR and FLIPRTETRA	Calcum mobilization and membrane potential HTS assays
BeckMan Coulter SAGIAN™ Core Partner & Core-Compliant Station	FLIPR 384, 3 and Tetra	Calcium mobilization and membrane potential HTS assays
RTS Life Science Assay Platform/SPRINT Software	FLIPR and FLIPRTETRA	Calcum mobilization and membrane potential HTS assays

Cellular Imaging Systems

With the Discovery-1's integrated robotic plate handling system, you can screen multiple, bar-coded plates unattended. UIC software for the ThermoCRS supports 45 plate storage capacity. The Discovery-1 System can also be integrated with custom robotics systems through a generic robotics interface.

Current integration examples for Cellular Imaging systems include:

Partner Robot/Software	MD Instrument/ Software	Application
Thermo CRS CataLyst Express	ImageXpress MICRO	High content screening
Thermo CRS CataLyst Express	ImageXpress ULTRA	High content screening
Caliper Twister II	IsoCyte	High content screening