New Ultra Low Volume, Disposable UV Transparent Microfluidic Cuvettes for Life Science Research

ALine's newest family of ultra-low volume, disposable UV transparent micro-fluidic cuvettes for fluorescence, the FluoroVetteTM, and absorbance, the SpecVetteTM, offer unparalleled functionality, robust design, and versatility through customization with membranes, electrodes, and valves. Both offer easy-fill pipette ports or hose barb adaptors for flowing applications. ALine's unique family of microfluidics cuvettes work in standard laboratory instrumentation, such as a spectrometer or sit nicely on a microscope stage. Rapid and cost effective customization expands the possibilities of bio micro fluidic research.

FluoroVettes hold 50 microliters with nanomolar range fluorescence detection sensitivity. The rugged, and high quality design provides a cost savings of 90% over traditional quartz sub-micro cuvettes. The patent-pending design eliminates air bubbles, can be used as a flowcell, with UV transparency to 220 nm. Customization further permits applications for bead-based displacement assays or membrane based reactions or as a dual chamber design for diffusion experiments across a membrane. The thin transparent window permits high magnification on a microscope stage, while the universal adaptor permits ready interface to a standard single sample fluorimeter.

The SpecVette, for absorbance, is available in path lengths of 250, 500, 1000 microns, and only requires a few micro liters of sample solution, eliminating many challenges associated with measuring highly concentrated samples using traditional short path cuvettes. Economical and disposable, SpecVettes are path length matched and have 1% to 2% error across the entire UV-VIS spectrum for twenty five different cuvettes. A universal adapter allows SpecVettes to be used with any spectrometer with a z-height of 12 to 20 mm. Other features include UV transparency to 220 nm, and an 'easy to fill' pipette tip port. Optional flowcell connections or transparent interdigitated electrodes further expand its capabilities for specialty applications.

This exclusive technology is available from ALine Inc. ALine Inc. is a leading supplier of high functionality bio micro solutions to biological, healthcare, chemical, environmental, instrumentation and research markets. Products and services include: Customized products for mammalian, stem cell, or suspended cell culture, Flowcells and multiplexed systems that interface to optical and electrochemical sensors, the MicroSlide with pnuematically controlled valves that support low dead volume, multi-step analyses with on-board reagents for the study of bio-compatible materials, and extensive full-service design, prototyping, and volume manufacture of Lab-on-a-Chip devices.