Regardless of whether you are dealing with laboratory processes such as pipetting medical samples or dispensing with a dispensing head, the PGVA pressure and vacuum generator from Festo provides a self-sufficient solution for handling liquids in laboratory automation. You only need a 24-volt power supply to pneumatically supply a pressure and vacuum-supported solution. There are two variants: PGVA-1 for regulated pressure and vacuum supply via a common channel and PGVA-2 for constant pressure and vacuum supply via two separate channels.
Regulated pressure and vacuum generation
The PGVA-1 pressure and vacuum generator generates the pressure and vacuum in a closed control circuit with integrated compressor, buffer tank, microfilter, pressure sensors and proportional valve. Pressure and vacuum are provided via the same channel at the output. With a communication interface, you can specify the desired pressure level via the integrated GUI or via a controller. This allows you to achieve pressure-controlled handling of liquids. You can adjust the pressure or vacuum level individually to suit your liquid in order to achieve a continuous flow with clean droplet break-off.
Constant pressure and vacuum generation
The PGVA-2 pressure and vacuum generator provides the pressure and vacuum via two independent channels at the output. The pressure and vacuum level is generated on the basis of preset fixed values. This eliminates the need for a communication interface for adjustable control within the pressure and vacuum generator. All you need is a 24-volt power supply. This makes it easy to carry out cleaning processes with the PGVA-2, for example.
Valuable experience from users
Several manufacturers of laboratory automation systems use the PGVA pressure and vacuum generator. The Dutch company MolGen appreciates the controlled pressure and vacuum generation with the PGVA-1. It uses the pressure and vacuum generator in the PurePrep TTR. The system prepares 320 patient samples per hour for further molecular processing. The system handles liquids automatically with high throughput by transferring liquids from sample vials to deep well microtiter plates quickly, precisely and reliably.
Test platform outside of laboratories
Fast MDx shows how many pathogens can be detected at unsurpassed speed without the need for expensive biosafety laboratories. The London-based company has developed a near-patient test system that reduces the usual waiting time of 24 to 48 hours to just one to two hours. Also on board: the decentralized pressure and vacuum generator PGVA-1 from Festo.
Fast MDx is the first fully automated, near-patient, high-throughput test system for the most common respiratory pathogens, influenza A, influenza B, RSV A, RSV B and Covid-19. The test platform is usually set up close to patients in hospitals, clinics or doctors' surgeries - often far away from laboratories. This saves time, costs and travel. Clever: In order to be independent of an external pneumatic supply, the Fast MDx test platform uses Festo's pressure-vacuum generator, which generates pressure or a vacuum and represents a self-contained solution for liquid handling in laboratory automation.
Reproducible results
Many experiments in the life sciences depend on highly precise and reliable pressures. In neuroscience research, for example, all steps - from (viral) injections into the intact brain to patch-clamp derivations - require a controlled pressure source. In the past, researchers have even generated pressure by mouth. When higher pressures were required, syringes were used to apply pressure manually through a syringe. But even with measuring devices, neither method provides reproducible results, as the stability of the pressure application, the exact timing and the actual pressure level can vary considerably.
Therefore, Sensapex, a Finnish company of the Acuvi Group, has developed the uMc pressure controllers to simplify and automate common tasks in life science experiments while enabling reproducible experiments and workflows. An important component for ensuring controlled and reliable pressure generation for Sensapex is the decentralized pressure and vacuum generator PGVA-2 from Festo. Sensapex also uses up to eight Festo VEAB piezo-based proportional pressure regulators in its uMc pressure controllers to ensure precise pressure and vacuum control.
About the author
Johannes Lang
Product Management LifeTech
Festo SE & Co. KG
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