Precision Miniature Isolation Valves in Clinical Diagnostic Equipment

We all appreciate the advances in medical technology to detect issues early and help us lead full and healthy lives. For medical diagnostic equipment that require fluid samples, this equipment requires fast, accurate and compact fluid control during diagnostic test runs.

In this 5-minute YouTube video, Fluid Control Solutions for Clinical Laboratory Dispensing Applications, Emerson’s Tony Gaglio describes a new product that help meet clinical laboratory original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) requirements.



Tony opens highlighting the requirements for dispensing and dosing applications, such as sample preparation, immunoassay, and DNA sequencing for molecular diagnostics. These and similar applications require accurate, repeatable and reliable dispensing through the life of the equipment.

Sample and reaction dispensed volumes can range down from microliters to nanoliters. These volume dispensing ranges require the right fluid handling and valve technologies. ASCO Series 038 5.7mm isolation valves offer isolated fluid control and are designed for use with neutral or aggressive liquids in clinical diagnostic instruments.

To address such tiny quantities of liquid movements through the equipment, the critical dimension for dispensing is 9mm which is the spacing on a typical 96-well microtiter plate. The dispensing valve needs to have a small dimensional width to simplify the design when mounting to the manifold. At 5.7mm, the Series 038 isolation valves enable efficient spacing side by side on a manifold.

It’s critical to understand the fluid capacity, also known as internal volume, inside a miniature control valve. The 038 isolation valve has an internal volume of only 1.2 microliters which reduces potential for wasted reagents. Temperature control at the point of dispense is another critical requirement. Efficient valve spacing and low internal volume help reagent temperatures to not deviate from the specified range. Ultra-low 1.2W is required to operate the miniature valves.

Watch the video and visit the Clinical Laboratory section on Emerson.com for more on the fluid control solutions for diagnostic instrumentation in clinical laboratories.

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