Hudson SOLO™ – Flexible & Affordable Automated Pipettor
The Hudson SOLO™ is a low cost, flexible and easy-to-use automated pipettor. Available in single, 8 and 12 channel options the SOLO can be programmed to do anything expected of a hand-held pipettor, with greatly improved precision (see the Specifications tab).
Simply set up the pipetting steps in intuitive SOLOSoft control software and go. Equipped with a broad dynamic volume range and the ability to handle reactions in a sterile environment, the SOLO can be loaded and operated manually, and is also compatible with robot loading systems from most manufactures, including the Hudson PlateCrane EX.
The SOLO was developed to meet the growing need throughout the research, pharmaceutical and clinical communities for a high resolution compact robotic pipettor. The SOLO provides researchers with walkaway freedom, a small footprint, and easy to use SOLOSoft software which is closely linked to our SoftLinx™ software for data tracking and scheduling, plus improved efficiency and decreased cost of continuous unattended operation.
The SOLO – multi-tip is available with either an 8-tip pipette head or 12-tip pipette head. The SOLO is standard with a 6 position deck. No worries if you need to transfer samples quickly from plate to plate and then other times do a serial dilution across the plate. The SOLO easily adapts without any tools to both heads. Use the 12-tip head to finish plate to plate transfers 50% faster than the 8-tip head, remove the head and add the 8 position head for easy serial dilutions.
Users who wish to cherry-pick from individual wells can use either the single-tip SOLO (as shown in the video clip below) or the multi-tip configuration. The SOLO multi-tip (both 8-channel and 12-channel) can work with just 1 tip, several tips, or all the tips without any issues. There is no need to switch to a single tip pipette head.
Cherry-Picking with the SOLO
The SOLO mutli-tip offers a broad pipetting range of 1μl to 200μl with a single pipette head. The mechanical drive and software controls of the pipette head allow the SOLO to push the boundaries of pipetting performance. With CVs of less than 3% across the entire pipetting range users can save valuable time and expense by using a single pipette head for both multi-tip and single-tip operations. Small volume pipette heads are available for working between 0.5μl and 20μl.
The SOLO automated pipettors provide many benefits to the lab:
- Single-, 8- & 12-channel pipetting heads are available.
- The 8- & 12-channel SOLO instruments can use only 1 tip without compromising performance saving valuable time and expense.
- The SOLO offers a broad range of accurate pipetting volumes, from 0.5ul to 200ul with CVs better than 3%.
- A 6 position deck is standard, offering 50% more capacity.
- The SOLO offers email functionality in the software that alerts the user when a run is completed or that an error has occurred.
- The SOLO can easily be integrated with additional instruments and software at anytime.
- The SOLO is easily customized for unique or specialized applications.
PlateCrane EX Robot Arm
- Easy integration using SoftLinx
- Up to 15 stacks, 450 plate capacity
- Easy combination with SOLOSoft methods
- Access to any SOLO plate nest
LabLinx Plate Stacker
- Feeds plates on track mounted directly to SOLO deck
- Up to 4 Stackers per SOLO, 480 plate capacity
- Easy integration using SoftLinx
- Multiple plates handled simultaneously
- Easy combination with SOLOSoft methods
- Access to any SOLO plate nest
- SOLO StackLink
Micro10x Reagent Dispenser
- Fast, accurate dispensing of bulk reagents
- 8- or 12-channel dispense manifolds
- Portrait or Landscape orientation
- Mounts to SOLO as a plate nest position
- Easily integrates into SOLOSoft pipetting methods
- Dramatically increases SOLO throughput
VaryVac Vacuum Filtration Nest
- Pipette samples and solvents directly into filter plates
- Computer control of vacuum ramp-up/down
- Detects and reports actual vacuum level
- Easy integration using SoftLinx
- Mounts to SOLO as a plate nest position
Heating/Cooling Nest
- Electrical: 100 – 260 VAC; 50-60 Hz; 0.5W
- RS-232 interface through SOLOSoft
- Temp. Range: -10°C to 110°C
- Logs actual nest temperature during run
- Easy integration into SOLOSoft pipetting methods
- Flexible user options
Shaker Nest
- Electrical: 115 – 230 VAC; 50-60 Hz; 3W
- RS-232 interface through SOLOSoft
- Shaking Speed: 100 to 2000RPM
- Up to 4 independently-controlled shaker nests per SOLO
- Easy integration into SOLOSoft pipetting methods
- Control of Shake Speed, Shake Time, Acceleration and Shaking Pattern
The SOLO was developed to meet the growing need throughout the research, pharmaceutical and clinical communities for a high resolution compact robotic pipettor. It can be adapted to any research activity which requires the accurate addition, removal and mixing of liquid samples and reagents – including those containing live cells. The SOLO can be integrated with other automated instruments for seamless process control and flexibility and has many uses in applications involving:
qPCR – The Hudson Robotics SOLO is the ideal pipettor for building the most complex sample set for your qPCR pipeline. Whether you are building a few qPCR reactions from 1.5mL source tubes or running serial dilutions on thousands of samples per day
High-Throughput Cherry Picking – A compact, self-contained system that allows users to obtain assay plates comprised of the actual hits detected in a primary screen using the same compound source plates that provided the primary screen
Rapid Serial Dilutions – The perfect solution for carrying out serial dilutions. The SOLO adds the required amount of sample to the first column of each row. The Micro10x then adds solvent to the remaining columns and the SOLO then transfers a fixed amount of the mixture from column 1 to column2, mixes it.
ELISA Assays – The SOLO forms the core element in a very simple, low-cost yet powerful ELISA preparation workcell, pictured above. Joining the SOLO in this compact workcell is Hudson‘s Micro10x reagent dispenser and Hudson‘s new RapidWash plate washer
Bioreactor Sampling and Feeding – Using a 24-chamber microplate bioreactorvessel with the footprint of a standard microplate, the AutoReact™ system automatically loads samples and feeds cells growing under 24 independent reaction conditions simultaneously
Automated High-Speed pH Determination – Hudson Robotics has developed an accurate and reliable method for High Speed pH measurement in microplates. Our proprietary technique delivers new scalability and speed to pH measurements in microplates.
*PCR is a licensed technology of Life Technologies
The SOLO easily fits on lab benchtops and into standard fume hoods and biosafety cabinets. It can automate large and small volume experiments, is adaptable to common well plate formats and can improve the quality and reliability of research. The SOLO can work as an unattended stand alone instrument which can save time and decrease cost and users can learn to use Hudson’s Softlinx software in just minutes. The product also can preserve sterlility and avoid cross-contamination while dispensing into slides and microplates. The SOLO high-throughput single-channel pipettor has features researchers will find very desirable in a benchtop instrument including:
- Compact 14″ x 16″ (355mm x 400mm) footprint
- 8-, 24-, 96-, 384- and 1536-well dispensing
- Compatible with vials, test tubes, reagent reservoirs
- Non-contact dispensing into microplates and slides
- Product offers a very broad dynamic volume range
- Ability to handle reactions in a sterile environment
- Fully compatible with robot loading systems or can be used manually as a stand alone unit
- In-line track/stacker compatibility for unparalleled high-throughput
- Communicates with each instrument via a serial port and comes with its own easy-to-use GUI.
- Includes Hudson Control Group’s SoftLinx software, which provides an easy-to-use interface to coordinate the SOLO’s operation with other automated instruments
- The new Solo has the added capability of supporting a grouping of multiple syringes (up to 10) with varying bore sizes to support very tiny (<1 μL) to very large (>100 μL) aspirating and dispensing volumes, all on the same unit.
- The new SOLO has an optional peristaltic pump for high-speed tip washing, which saves cycle time vs. traditional washing with a syringe-pump.
Plate Capacity : 4 to 6 positions; unlimited with optional stackers
Plate Format : SBS standard footprint, any well configuration
Tubes, Flasks and Vials: Any format
Housing material : Stainless main deck; painted steel upper arm covers over machined aluminum structural components
Spill Protection : All electronics protected by solid, non-penetrated cover to prevent any leakage onto electrical devices
Arm Mechanism: Horizontal Travel/Vertical Stroke: x=22.5″; y=9.3″; z=4.0″
Size : 24.0″ x 29.5″ x 19.5″ (H x W x D)
Weight : 50lbs
Power Requirements: 120-240 VAC, 50-60Hz, 2Amps Max at 120
Computer Interface : RS-232 serial cable
Precision Data (Multi-Channel SOLO): The following data was generated on a SOLO fitted with a 20uL 8-channel pipette head using 20uL tips and a 200uL 8-channel pipette head using 50uL tips. The SOLO dispensed at the meniscus line of water in a tube placed on top of a microbalance. In each case, an excess of water was aspirated and the indicated volume was then dispensed into the tube. The weight was automatically recorded via a SoftLinx plug-in and CVs were calculated based on 20 replicates.
| Pipette Head (μl) | Volume Dispensed | Tip Size | CV (%) |
| 200 | 2 | 50 | 0.71 |
| 200 | 5 | 50 | 0.40 |
| 200 | 8 | 50 | 0.57 |
| 200 | 14 | 50 | 0.38 |
| 200 | 20 | 50 | 0.19 |
| 200 | >20 | 50 | <0.1 |
| 20 | 0.25 | 20 | 1.87 |
| 20 | 0.50 | 20 | 1.33 |
| 20 | 1 | 20 | 0.95 |
| 20 | 2 | 20 | 0.73 |
| 20 | 5 | 20 | 0.34 |
| 20 | 8 | 20 | 0.21 |
| 20 | 14 | 20 | 0.11 |
| 20 | >15 | 20 | < 0.1 |
Precision Data (Single-Channel SOLO): The following table summarizes the results of 2500 gravimetric-validated dispenses of water at various volumes using the four standard tip sizes. Similar accuracy has been demonstrated with different solvents, buffer systems, and cellular suspensions of Jurkat cells.
The results in the first two tables were obtained using the SOLO equipped with a 125µL syringe.
|
Tip Size µL |
Avg Vol µL |
Avg CV (%) |
|
10 |
1-10 |
1.75 |
|
20 |
3-16 |
1.12 |
|
50 |
3-32 |
1.41 |
|
250 |
3-50 |
1.59 |
|
Volume Range µL |
Tip Size µL |
CV (%) |
Avg CV (%) |
|
1-3 |
10 |
2.72 |
2.72 |
|
3-5 |
10 |
0.77 |
1.50 |
|
20 |
1.33 |
||
|
50 |
1.35 |
||
|
250 |
2.56 |
||
|
5-10 |
10 |
1.75 |
1.45 |
|
20 |
1.12 |
||
|
50 |
1.47 |
||
|
250 |
1.45 |
||
|
10-50 |
20 |
0.91 |
1.03 |
|
50 |
1.40 |
||
|
250 |
0.77 |
The following table was generated using a SOLO equipped with two sizes of syringe pumps. When equipped with a 25µL syringe, the SOLO can dispense 400nL with CVs below 3%.
|
Syringe Size µL |
Avg Vol µL |
Avg CV (%) |
|
500 |
50 |
0.51 |
|
500 |
25 |
0.52 |
|
500 |
12 |
1.23 |
|
500 |
5 |
5.3 |
|
25 |
12 |
0.24 |
|
25 |
6 |
0.27 |
|
25 |
3 |
0.36 |
|
25 |
1 |
1.75 |
|
25 |
0.4 |
2.82 |
Below are some timing results based on filling each well of a 96 well plate with 5uL of liquid.
| Method | Average Time/ Plate (min:sec) |
| Dispense from a resevoir |
1:43 |
| Dispense from a plate |
1:53 |
| Copy plate – well by well |
6:18 |
| Copy plate – well by well with 96 tip changes |
29:04 |