For the pulsation-free delivery of small volumes of liquids, syringe pumps have been very successful in atomic spectroscopy, the chemical industry or research, as well as in medical technology. In a previous publication, Spetec was able to show that syringe pumps are excellently suited in atomic spectroscopy for the analysis of cell suspensions or nanoparticle suspensions in order to reduce memory effects or blank values. In medical technology, syringe pumps are indispensable for dosing liquid infusions. For long-term applications, there used to be the handicap that the syringes had to be replaced manually for applications that were to run with the same liquid over a long period of time.
Thanks to a technical innovation, Spetec GmbH has now succeeded in developing a double syringe pump that no longer has this disadvantage. A simple spindle with offset power transmission to the syringe pushers, driven by a stepper motor, makes it possible to drive two separate syringes simultaneously. While the first syringe is being emptied, the second syringe can be completely filled in the meantime. Without the need to change the syringes, the second syringe can be filled in again.
A simple spindle with staggered power transmission to the syringe pushers, driven by a stepper motor, enables the simultaneous drive of two separate syringes
Even large delivery volumes can be delivered constantly over long periods of time pulsation-free, without the need to constantly change syringes manually. On the upper support plate, the two heads of the syringe holders are shown with the spindle slot underneath. A quick release device facilitates a fast exchange of both syringes.
Ready-made syringes (made of polypropylene - PP) with 5ml, 20ml and 50 (PP) ml can be used, but the holder of each syringe also allows the use of custom-made syringes with an outer diameter of 9 to 34 mm. For each syringe, the flow rates can be varied over a range of 6 orders of magnitude using the software supplied (alternatively directly with the Lab View software). Depending on the syringe volume, flow rates from 0.03 nL/s up to 760 µL/s can be easily set. Several double syringe modules (up to 6 in a combi bank) can be controlled individually via the control software. A screenshot of the set-up menu is shown in figure 2.
All variables of the dual syringe pump can be programmed individually, from a single injection to continuous delivery, so that a very wide range of applications can be covered, depending on the choice of syringe. The double syringe pump is ideal for such applications in medical technology, analytics, research and the chemical industry where the smallest volumes of liquid have to be dosed very precisely over long periods of time pulsation-free at extremely low flow rates.
