Posts by Bob Sandor
Elma xtra ST Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaners
New 25/45 kHz Elma xtra ST Units feature dynamic sweep/pulse mode for enhanced cleaning action
Ultrasonic cleaning equipment distributor Tovatech announces the availability of the powerful new Elmasonic xtra ST line of dual-frequency 25/45 kHz industrial ultrasonic cleaners in 7 stainless steel tank capacities from 8 to 67 gallons. These rugged wheel-mounted ultrasonic cleaner units feature a sweep mode for uniform distribution of cleaning energy, a user-activated pulse mode for a 20% increase in cleaning performance, and a dynamic sweep/pulse function for enhanced cleaning action.
Tovatech director Dr. Robert Sandor says the new Elma xtra ST ultrasonic cleaner line is perfectly positioned to replace spray and solvent cleaning operations across a broad range of industrial cleaning requirements. Typical applications range from removing stubborn contaminants such as lapping compounds, heavy grease and oil buildup at 25 kHz to the more gentle 45 kHz ultrasonic frequency for fine cleaning of parts with … Read the rest
Selecting Scientific Refrigeration Equipment
Scientific refrigeration equipment includes refrigerators and freezers used to store vaccines, pharmaceuticals, biological samples and similar temperature-sensitive products and specimens for healthcare, R&D and related applications. Scientific refrigerators and freezers have critical performance requirements generally unmet by residential and commercial refrigeration systems. For this reason they are highly recommended to protect contents that lose potency or are otherwise compromised by what are called temperature excursions above or below recommended storage settings. Therefore, selecting scientific refrigeration equipment for your needs is key.
Correct storage temperatures are usually recommended by professional or government organizations. The CDC, for example, recommends in its 2016 Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit that frozen vaccines be stored between -50⁰ and -15⁰C (-58⁰ and + 5⁰F); refrigerated vaccines should be stored at 2⁰ and 8⁰C (36⁰ and 46⁰ F). Vaccine manufacturers indicate correct storage temperatures that should apply along what is called the “cold chain” extending from the … Read the rest
Solving Tough Cleaning Challenges with Ultrasonic Cleaning
According to a report available from market research firm IBIS World, “in 2016, the ultrasonic cleaning equipment manufacturing industry is expected to generate $359.6 million in revenue,” and, “over the five years to 2016, industry revenue increased at an annualized rate of 1.8%, including an expected 3.7% rise in 2016.”*
At Tovatech we believe that this positive projection is due in part to the continuing and growing realization that tough cleaning challenges can be overcome with ultrasonic energy. Many of our posts go into detail on the use of ultrasonic energy to solve cleaning challenges. We present here a compendium of applications that may or may not be top of mind to folks grappling with difficult cleaning challenges.… Read the rest
Ultra-Cold Freezer Saves Skull Fragments After Brain Surgery
Brain surgery is an intricate and precise procedure. When extreme swelling of the brain necessitates removal of portions of the skull to relieve pressure, it’s medically preferable to reattach those pieces rather than use prosthetic materials after the swelling subsides. Today, surgeons are able to preserve these fragments in an ultra-cold freezer.
Cerebral Herniation
Dr. Matthew Kang, a neurologist at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, has conducted several procedures that involve the removal of skull fragments to relieve swelling on the brain. In an interview with a local newscast, Dr. Kang discussed the consequences of cerebral swelling. “So if you have uncontrolled swelling and you have the skull on, the brain only has one way to go which is through the bottom, and that’s called a herniation,” Dr. Kang said. A cerebral herniation can lead to increased pressure inside the brain cavity. If untreated, a herniation can be fatal.… Read the rest
Storage Tips to Help Safeguard Vaccines
Vaccine storage is an important topic that must be addressed by hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities. A good reference is the CDC’s Vaccine and Storage Handling Toolkit*. Among the suggestions are segregating different vaccine formulas used in these facilities to areas that are clearly identified. Store by expiration dates and administer vaccines following first-in-first-out procedures. Expired vaccines should be disposed of in an approved manner in accordance with state health requirements. (Updated December 26, 2013)
Vaccines lose their potency if improperly stored. Clinics should follow manufacturers’ recommended storage temperatures. Residential-grade refrigerators and freezers are not designed to maintain the temperature consistency necessary for proper storage of vaccines. Using these types of units can result in financial loss for clinics and patient aggravation due to spoiled vaccines.
If budgets do not permit the purchase of pharmacy-grade refrigerators and freezers, laboratory refrigerators and and laboratory freezers such
Powerful Lab Sonicator Speeds Sample Prep in Pharma Research
Ultrasonic cavitation is often employed for sample preparation in pharmaceutical labs. High ultrasonic power density is ideal for these applications because it accomplishes the job quickly. This minimizes cavitation induced heat buildup that can cause chemical degradation of samples.
Sample prep is generally accomplished by suspending sample flasks in ultrasonic cleaners containing water and a surfactant. Cavitation generated by ultrasonic transducers passes through the flask walls to act on the sample.
Most equipment used in this application handles several flasks at once for production-scale operations. An alternative design has proved especially efficient by speeding up the sample prep process in pharmaceutical research laboratories. The secret is in the design.
Elma’s S50R Lab Sonicator for Sample Prep
The 0.75 gallon to 1.5 gallon capacity 37 kHz multifunction Elma S50R laboratory sonicator available from Tovatech … Read the rest
Undercounter BOD Incubator Refrigerator
Temperature stability or minimum temperature drift is an important feature for BOD incubator refrigerators, along with sophisticated temperature controls and alarming systems. These are among the attributes of the new Norlake lab incubators now available from Tovatech. The 5.5 cubic foot units can store up to 71 300-ml BOD bottles. The LRI061 high-performance refrigerated incubator is an ideal choice for labs with moderate size storage requirements to support a variety of scientific studies.
A Lab Incubator with Programmable Logic Control
The microprocessor PLC allows researchers to tightly specify storage temperatures to one decimal place (0.10⁰C) in their scientific incubator by using the intuitive 4-digit LED display and 8-button interface. The interface allows users to navigate through the lab incubator menu structure including on/off, return to status, displaying program selections, the alarming system and cooling status.
The streamlined interior is designed to optimize air flow and temperature uniformity. This is attested … Read the rest
New Digital Platform Scale Performs Multiple Functions
A newly released family of Kern IKT digital touch screen platform scales now available from Tovatech performs multiple measuring and weighing functions in a single package. This versatile tool allows companies to reduce their scale “inventory” and associated maintenance costs by consolidating diverse measuring and weighing functions from recipe to animal weighing on a single unit. Fully 9 operating modes are accommodated.
Ease of use is another feature of the IKT digital platform scales, all equipped with stainless steel weighing plates, one of which can be used for suspending weighing. Maximum weighing capacity ranges from 3,100 to 151,000 grams. An intuitive backlit LCD digital touch screen measures 5.8 inches on the diagonal to clearly display the functions being performed. Examples include:
- A large keypad for easy input of text and values, also displaying the operator’s name
- A clear menu structure with keys
UCLA School of Dentistry Recommends Ultrasonic Cleaning
Ultrasonic cleaners are found with great regularity in dental healthcare. In the UCLA School of Dentistry website there is a chapter on sterilization in the Infection Control Manual. The chapter provides an excellent description on the workflow and processes involved. Dental Treatment Facilities (DTFs) must have a Central Sterilization Room (CSR). In the physical design of the facility, using instrument cassettes and ultrasonic cleaning aids in processing efficiency. In the sterilization process, various steps are given. For instrument cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning is the recommended option. The cleaning solution must be able to remove protein, blood and other debris. The solution must be changed regularly or whenever visibly soiled.
For further information visit www.dentistry.ucla.edu.… Read the rest
How to use a Counting Scale System for Large Quantities
When large quantities of small or lightweight pieces are being packaged for market accurate inventory control and accurate billing depend on highly accurate counting scale systems. In such cases connecting a precision reference scale to a platform scale gives an extremely high degree of weighing and counting accuracy even when individual pieces weigh as little as 0.002 gram.
That is the precision realized by the Kern CDEE piece counting system available from Tovatech. It consists of a CDE digital platform balance available in capacities from 35 to 150 kg (77 to 300 pounds) connected by an interface cable to a Kern CME reference balance offered in capacities from 100 to 3000 grams (3.5 oz to 6.6 pounds). The readout for both models depends on the maximum weighing range but is as low as 1 gram for the platform balance and 0.001 gram for the reference balance. This versatile combination … Read the rest