Robotics lead to faster discoveries
for microbiologists
M
itsubishi Electric has supported
Peak Analysis & Automation
(PAA) in the delivery of an
innovative, fully automated laboratory
workcell for bacteriological studies to
the U.S. Department of Commerce’s
National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST). The application
is built around a Mitsubishi Electric
MELFA articulated arm robot with its
own proximity-based safety solution.
Scientists at NIST can now benefit
from a flexible and reliable system to
perform several bacterial growth tests
in parallel, significantly shortening
discovery times and reducing the risk of
contamination.
The S-CEL™ Robotic System is a fully integrated, modular and
customisable workcell that can accommodate a broad range of
devices to meet different research requirements.
NIST is a science and technology
laboratory whose research efforts
include developing and promoting
common guidelines, practices and
standards for industry, public bodies
and academia. Its purpose is to drive
U.S. innovation and competitiveness.
The automated laboratory from
Mitsubishi Electric and PAA provides
specific environmental conditions
for the proliferation of studied
organisms whilst also avoiding sample
contamination.
Automated solutions act as a breeding
ground for innovation
As a global leader in laboratory
automation for life sciences, PAA offers
a cutting-edge solution that supports
optimal testing and measurement. The
company provided one of their flexible
solutions, the S-CEL™ Robotic System,
which is a fully integrated, modular and
customisable
workcell that can accommodate a broad
range of devices to meet different
research requirements.
By using automated process technology,
scientists can avoid tedious and
repetitive tasks and concentrate
on analysing laboratory data. For
this specific application, NIST and
PAA planned a system that would
automatically prepare culture media
for bacteria, manipulate the organisms’
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Images: Peak Analysis and Automation (PAA)
DNA and measure their growth rates as
well as any underlying patterns.
The workcell features a laminar
clean air system that flushes away
airborne contaminants and protects
the biological samples and equipment
within the unit from contamination.
Once inside, the S-CEL™ system is
comprised of devices to store the
microtiter plates, where the microbes
are cultivated, as well as plate readers
and incubators to monitor bacterial
growth in set conditions.
In order to modify the organisms, the
unit also enables a nuclear vector
transfer function for genetic material.
Other key components include liquid
handlers for pouring growth media
substrates into the plates, plate sealers
and peelers that cover or remove seals
and lids from the microtiter plates,
as well as temperature-controlled
centrifuges to spin samples when
required.
All these instruments, located around
the workcell, required an automated
pick and place solution, to move
samples and consumables around the
different stations to perform all the
relevant tasks without any human
intervention.