Vortex Mixer Design: Precision Mixing for Multiple Samples
Multi Tube Vortex Mixer
Iridian VM01
Product summary
Vortex mixers are commonly used in laboratories to mix small amounts of liquids. The Iridian multi-tube laboratory vortex mixer design features a twelve-tube capacity and the same digital interface as its sibling Iridian products. The interface allows for easy control of speed, duration, and notification settings via the display.
Categories
Laboratory Equipment Design, Medtech Design, Professional Equipment Design
Multi Tube Laboratory Vortex Mixer Design
As part of a larger brand language, the vortex mixer industrial design focused on creating a unit that matched a high-tech lab aesthetic. Moving the interface to a digital display reduces button complexity and allows future proofing of UI and UX updates.
The upright form factor creates a compact space-saving design, maximising space, especially for small or crowded lab environments. Stability and noise reduction are achieved by combining a weighted base and vibration dampening.
Replacing a manual action, Jack and Harold Kraft introduced the first vortex mixer in the late 1950s, which was patented in 1962 and assigned to Kraft Scientific Corp.
An important part of the vortex mixer design process involved cleanability. While the interface guides users to ensure the chance of spillages is reduced, there is always a chance they can still happen accidentally. The minimal, smooth forms of the design provide an easily cleanable surface. Removing the tube holder provides access to a well designed to catch any spills, directing them to an easily cleanable area instead of onto a workspace.
Multi-Tube Vortex Mixers are expected to dominate the market from 2023 to 2029. They can simultaneously accommodate multiple tubes or containers, increasing sample throughput. They find extensive use in high-throughput laboratories, clinical diagnostics, and biotechnology applications.
Using a digital interface provided the opportunity to enhance the user workflow. As part of the UX design journey mapping was conducted, ensuring the UX could be designed for an efficient workflow. The first step is tubes, the user is prompted to select which size tube they are using. The interface will then direct the user to attach the appropriate tube holder. When loading tubes, the interface asks how many tubes will be used and provides an on-screen loading pattern to avoid imbalance. Preset configurations can be chosen at the beginning for selecting sample types, each preset can then be fine-tuned after selection.
Common uses of a multi-tube vortex mixer include:
- Sample Preparation: Used to mix reagents, suspensions, or samples before analysis in applications like DNA, RNA, or protein extraction.
- Cell Culturing: Helps to resuspend cells or mix culture media, particularly in microbiology and biotechnology labs.
- Clinical Diagnostics: Commonly used in medical labs to prepare blood, serum, or other biological fluids for testing.
- Chemical Mixing: Ideal for laboratories involved in chemical synthesis or reactions where consistent mixing of multiple samples is essential.
- Pharmaceutical Testing: utilised in drug development and testing to ensure uniform mixing of compounds.
