A vortex is a device commonly used in laboratories to mix small vials of liquid. It consists of an electric motor with a vertically oriented drive shaft attached to a slightly mounted recessed rubber part. It is an ideal instrument for gently mixing and forceful resuspension of cells and components of chemical and biological liquids in tubes using an eccentric mechanism.

How does this team work?

It consists of an electric motor with the drive shaft oriented vertically and connected to a cup-shaped piece of rubber mounted slightly off-center. The rubber part motor oscillates rapidly in a circular motion. When a test tube or other suitable container is pressed into the rubber cup (or its edge touched), the movement is transmitted to the liquid inside and a vortex is created. Most vortex mixers have a variable speed setting and can be set to run continuously, or to run only when downward pressure is applied to the rubber part.

Types of vortex

In a laboratory you can find an important series of vortex mixers. Each of them has evolved over time, then we explain what they are:

Vortex of a tube

It is an ideal shaker to mix substance through a single tube. Perform gentle blends to achieve strong results from cells or liquid components, whether chemical or biological, through the eccentric mechanism.

This type of vortex mixer has two operating modes, continuous and pulsed, which is activated by pressing the cap with the bottom of the tube.

Multiple vortex tubes

This shaker is designed for mixing using multiple tubes or containers. You can use it if you need to carry out an intense washing of cells, bacteria and yeasts, it can also be used for washing cultures. It can also be used for the extraction of enzymes and metabolites from cells or cell culture.

One of the most important advantages of this type of shaker is that it has the ability to mix up to 32 tubes at the same time. It also has continuous and pulse operation.

Multiple velocity vortex

It is a vortex shaker in which a number of tubes can also be placed, but unlike the others, it offers multiple speed and large scale. It is designed for use in biology laboratories where research is conducted in the field of biochemistry and cell and molecular biology.

It has several platforms. One used to place the microanalysis tubes and another to control the microprocessor, which takes care of time and speed. It also has an LCD display that indicates the value lines.

What considerations should you take into account when using this equipment?

Place the shaker on a stable, level surface near a grounded electrical outlet. The surface must be clean and dust-free to ensure that the feet are firmly attached to the surface. Leave enough free space on all sides of the unit for adequate ventilation. With the switch in the OFF position, connect the power cord to a grounded electrical outlet.

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