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Pipetting robot - ASSIST PLUS

Integra Biosciences AG

Key technical specifications

  • Pipetting robot for automated use of selected INTEGRA electronic pipettes and pipetting modules. 
  • Compatible with VIAFLO, VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipettes, and the D-ONE single channel pipetting module. 
  • Supports automatic tip loading and ejection. 
  • Accommodates up to 4 deck positions for plates, tube racks or reservoirs, plus 1 position for tip loading and 1 position for tip waste. 
  • Compatible with labware from tubes to 384 well plates. 
  • Pipetting protocol setup via pipette, VIALINK and VIALAB. 
  • Dimensions: 75 cm x 38 cm x 51 cm. 
  • Weight: 25 kg. 

The ASSIST PLUS is a compact pipetting robot designed to automate routine liquid handling with INTEGRA handheld electronic pipettes. It brings walk-away automation to common laboratory workflows while keeping the flexibility of handheld pipetting formats for tubes, reservoirs and microplates. 

It is intended for laboratories that want to improve reproducibility, reduce manual workload and automate repetitive pipetting tasks without moving to a large liquid handling system. Depending on the selected pipette or module, the system can support everything from routine plate filling and serial dilutions to tube-to-plate transfers, normalization and magnetic bead purification. 

Automated pipetting with handheld flexibility

ASSIST PLUS automates selected INTEGRA handheld pipettes and modules, combining benchtop automation with the familiarity of electronic pipetting. The system is designed for routine walk-away processing, helping laboratories standardize repetitive liquid handling steps while keeping workflows accessible and easy to adapt. 

Broad workflow and labware compatibility

The platform accommodates numerous common labware types, from tubes to 384 well plates, and supports reservoirs as well. Its deck configuration offers space for multiple plates, tube racks or reservoirs, making it suitable for a wide range of daily lab tasks and multistep pipetting protocols. 

Consistent pipetting results

According to the source materials, automated handheld pipetting on ASSIST PLUS provides precise tip positioning, optimal immersion depths, controlled pipetting speeds and strict adherence to programmed methods. These features support more consistent and reproducible results while reducing the risk of manual pipetting errors. 

Easy protocol setup

ASSIST PLUS can be programmed via the pipette itself, with VIALINK, or with VIALAB software. The manufacturer describes VIALAB as a step-by-step protocol setup tool that guides the user through pipette, tip and labware selection, method definition and program transfer. Protocols can also be simulated to estimate run time and tip consumption. 

Compact system for everyday lab use

The system is designed as a compact bench-top solution for labs that want automation without the footprint of a larger liquid handler. The brochure also states that ASSIST PLUS can be placed in biosafety cabinets for sterile sample processing and user protection. 

Automatic tip handling

ASSIST PLUS includes automatic tip loading and ejection, reducing manual intervention during setup and operation. In the source materials, this is also linked to lower operator fatigue and reduced repetitive strain associated with routine pipetting. 

Expandable with optional pipetting formats

A key advantage of ASSIST PLUS is that the application range depends on the installed pipette or module. With VIAFLO pipettes, the system supports routine multichannel plate workflows; with VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipettes, it can handle tube-to-plate transfers and transfers between different plate formats; and with the optional D-ONE single channel pipetting module, it can automate tasks such as normalization, hit picking and master mix preparation. D-ONE also extends the usable volume range within one pipetting tool, as each module is compatible with two different GRIPTIP sizes, and it features automatic liquid level detection to aspirate at the correct height even when sample levels vary between tubes or wells. Optional magnetic bead purification capability

For magnetic bead workflows, ASSIST PLUS can be combined with optional MAG and HEATMAG modules. The manufacturer states that these modules enable automated magnetic bead purification, with HEATMAG additionally combining magnetic separation and heating for workflows such as nucleic acid extraction. These modules are accessories for the ASSIST PLUS workflow, not the core product itself. 

The ASSIST PLUS can also be expanded with optional COLDPLATE and BIOSHAKE modules to incorporate heating, cooling and shaking steps into automated workflows. According to the manufacturer, COLDPLATE provides precise and uniform temperature control from 0 to 99 °C, while BIOSHAKE modules offer orbital shaking up to 3000 rpm. The BIOSHAKE 3000-T combines shaking with heating, extending the system’s usefulness for workflows that require controlled temperature and mixing in a compact automated setup.

Applications

  • Serial dilution 
  • Plate filling 
  • Reagent addition 
  • Plate reformatting 
  • Plate duplications / plate copying 
  • Tube-to-plate transfers 
  • Normalization (with optional D-ONE module) 
  • Hit picking (with optional D-ONE module) 
  • Master mix preparation (with optional D-ONE module) 
  • Magnetic bead purification (with optional MAG / HEATMAG modules)
  • Heating, cooling and shaking workflows (with optional COLDPLATE / BIOSHAKE modules)

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