Good Things Come in Small Packages

Beckman Coulter's Microfuge 18 Today's laboratory instruments seem to be following the same path as computers and cellular phones--smaller, faster, and harder to figure out. It seems that in their quest to miniaturize and accelerate the tools we use, technologists sometimes forget that one tenet of progress is simplicity. Beckman Coulter steers clear of technological one-upmanship and emphasizes convenience and utility in the development of its instruments. The new Microfuge 18 is a good example of how user feedback and common-sense engineering can combine to create a product that is practical, user-friendly, and easy to live with. To start with, the physical dimensions of the Microfuge 18 are not intrusive. Measuring about the size of a hatbox, the unit is small enough to stay out of harm's way. And weighing in at just under 30 pounds, while not a featherweight, the microfuge is manageable. Visually, the microfuge looks like a work of modern art. Beckman Coulter product planning manager Randy Pawlovich, who oversaw the development of the Microfuge 18, was particularly proud of its outward appearance. "We commissioned a design firm with young designers. They had not done medical instruments before, but we like what they came up with." Many customers agreed. "It looks really neat," commented one user. "It gives the lab a futuristic look." The Microfuge 18 features an LCD display with an easy-to-use interface. Revolutions per minute and elapsed time are included, but an additional display could prove immensely useful for researchers. "A lot of experimental protocols require spins based on relative centrifugal force (RCF)," commented Mary Erickson of Genset Corporation. When using other microfuges she has to "sit down and calculate" the RCF values. On the Microfuge 18, researchers have the option of setting their runs according to force with a g-force meter display alongside rpm values, to a maximum of 18,000 x g. "That saves us a lot of time," added Joe Garcia, senior research associate at Signal Pharmaceutical. "We had some experiments fail that could have been due to our 'guestimations' of RCF values, but the Beckman does it all for you." Another useful feature is the timed pulse. The Microfuge 18 has a 30-minute maximum run time, but in many instances samples need just a quick spin. "I didn't like having to program the microfuge when all I needed was a few seconds to separate really heavy particulates," noted one user. When the start button is depressed and held down, the Microfuge 18 automatically counts up and displays in seconds the elapsed time until the user lifts his or her finger. In this way, brief runs can be consistently applied, and users no longer have to key in a 3-second run. Beneath its sleek aluminum skin, the Microfuge 18 delivers performance. The induction drive motor accelerates to 14,000 rpm in 18 seconds. The deceleration time is just as impressive at only 19 seconds. The key to achieving these numbers is a lightweight polypropylene rotor. "When we were designing the unit, windage was more important than weight," noted Pawlovich. By removing reciprocal weight, spin cycle times are reduced and power output maximized. Compared to some microfuges, finger-tapping, tedious laboratory small-talk time is reduced as much as threefold. Perhaps the best quality of the Microfuge 18, though, is something that nobody notices--a low noise level. "We're always getting feedback on noise. In fact, that's sometimes more of a factor than price," commented Pawlovich. The drive motor of the Microfuge 18 is housed in a metal containment box with the controls and other mechanics situated outside it. Proper insulation of the motor and efficient airflow management result in collective sighs of approval from technicians and scientists in labs that use the Microfuge 18. The relief in Garcia's voice was hard to miss. "So quiet, it's heaven," he said. Although the Microfuge 18 doesn't break any new ground in microfuge technology, its clever combination of intelligent design with quality engineering makes it an all-around top performer. But Pawlovich admits that one additional ingredient went into the design. "The Microfuge 18 was developed mostly through Beckman's experience in making such instruments, and customer feedback is an essential part of that experience." The author, Linn Cook, can be contacted at lcook@meridianlink.com. For more information, please contact Beckman Coulter at 800-742-2345, or visit the company Web site at www.beckmancoulter.com.

Good Things Come in Small Packages

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