Many pumps are used in combination, and many are automated so that they function when the user programs them to. SciLog's UltraTec protein-purifaction system optimizes and documents ultrafiltration applications. Wis. Peristaltic pumps are useful for biological processes in which purity is important. A peristaltic pump is a tube associated with an inside pump that presses against a series of rollers. N.J. Peristaltic pumps avoid contamination because the liquid does not contact moving parts.
Uses are diverse.
Peristaltic pumps from Watson-Marlow Inc. of Wilmington, Mass., for example, are used to mix photographic chemicals, add liquid vitamins to dry cereals and pasteurized eggs to pasta, inject hormones and adhesives into estrogen transdermal patches, and fill containers with contrast agents for medical scanners. Md. The system can perfuse tissues with up to nine reagents and collect up to 20 effluents per sample. The neurotransmitters are washed into vials and placed on a scintillation counter, and the label coming off is counted. This assay screens compounds that bind to specific neurotransmitter receptors. The greater the binding, the more labeled neurotransmitter is displaced.