BioSpec Mini-Beadbeater

Overview

The Mini-Beadbeater comes in a 16 or 24 sample model or a 96 high-throughput sample model and disrupts microbial or tissue samples with better than 95 percent efficiency. Cells are disrupted quickly and safely in the sealed system. The apparatus is easy to clean, has a small footprint and is essentially maintenance free.

The Mini-BeadBeater disrupts microbial cells and plant and animal tissue by violently agitating 2 ml screw-cap microvials (the 96 model can optionally use standard deep well microplates) containing small glass, ceramic, or steel beads and disruption buffer.

The performance of the Mini-BeadBeater equals or exceeds that of any other type or brand of cell disrupter. Even resistant samples like yeast, spores or fibrous tissue are completely homogenized in minutes. The non-foaming, aerosol-free method preserves enzymes and organelles. In the presence of nucleic acid extraction media such as phenol, Gu-SCN or a commercial kit solution, DNA or RNA is recovered in the highest possible yield. The method is ideal for PAGE, PCR applications, and diagnostics using antibody or oligonucleotide probes. Because the beads and vials are disposable, there is absolutely zero cross-contamination between samples - essential for PCR techniques.

The Mini-Beadbeater can also be used for dry grinding. Here, steel beads are added to hard samples such as hair, bone, teeth, seeds and minerals and are powdered in 10-60 seconds of operation. 

Resistant materials such as tendon, cartilage, rubber or some plastics can be powdered by pre-freezing the sample to liquid nitrogen temperatures (called cryo-grinding), then grinding in the hard frozen state. Dry-grinding requires using special microvials resistant to breakage. When dry grinding with ceramic or steel beads at room temperature our 'XXTuff' microvials are recommended. Our Stainless steel microvials are available for dry grinding with steel beads at cryo-temperatures. A solid aluminum vial holder (see the Accessories, below) can be utilized to maintain cryogenic temperatures during beadbeating.

Beads and vials must be purchased separately.

Features:

• Timer: 0-5 minute digital, with auto reset
• Removable vial-holding cassette
• No imposed motor cool-down-time between each sample run

• Beadbeater-16
• Capacity: four to sixteen screw-cap microvials (0.5, 1.5 and 2.0 ml) each handling 1 to 400 mg (wet weight) bio-sample.
• Currently not CE certified
• Shaking speed: 3450 oscillations/min.
• Throw or vial displacement: 0.75 inches.
• Beadbeater-24
• Capacity: four to twenty four screw-cap microvials (0.5, 1.5, and 2.0 ml) each containing to 400 mg (wet weight) bio-sample
• CE certified
• Shaking speed: Continuously variable (analog slider), 2000-3800 strokes/min. 
• Throw or stroke displacement: 7/8 inches
• Beadbeater-96
• Capacity: Holds one 2 ml deep-well microplate or two 1 ml deep-well microplates up to 45 microvials (0.5, 1.5 & 2.0 ml), with each vial or well capable of processing up to 400 mg (wet weight) of biomaterial.
• Vial displacement distance or Throw: 1.25 in. (3.2 cm).
• Shaking Speed: 40 oscillations/second or 2400 oscillations/min. 

Key Attributes

Manufacturer Specifications

Mini-Beadbeater-16

• Power: 115 volts, 60 Hz, 7.5 amps or 230 volts, 50 Hz, 3.7 amps.
• 10" D X 16"W X 12" H, 40 lbs.
• Shaking pattern: Uses proven, more efficient near horizontal vial orientation with shaking motion top-to-bottom (not side-to-side or vortex-like) shaking patterns.
• Capacity: four to sixteen screw-cap microvials (0.5, 1.5 and 2.0 ml) each handling 1 to 400 mg (wet weight) bio-sample.
• Shaking speed: 3450 oscillations/min. The calculated M/sec "performance" value equal to or greater than all competitive beadbeater-type cell disrupters on the market.
• Throw or vial displacement: 0.75 inches.
• Timer: 0-5 minute digital, with auto reset.
• Removable vial-holding cassette.
• No imposed motor cool-down-time between each sample run.
• The MiniBeadBeater-16 uses standard screw-cap plastic microvials. Stainless steel microvials or a special reinforced polypropylene microvial (XXTuff vials) are available when dry- or cryo-milling with steel beads. Eight 7 ml vials can be processed with an accessory holding ring.

Mini-Beadbeater-24

• Power: 115 volts, 60 Hz, 7.5 amps or 230 volts, 50 Hz, 3.7 amps
• 10" D X 18" W X 12" H, 50 lbs
• Shaking pattern: Uses proven, more efficient near horizontal vial orientation
• Capacity: four to twenty four screw-cap microvials (0.5, 1.5, and 2.0 ml) each containing to 400 mg (wet weight) bio-sample
• Shaking speed: Continuously variable (analog slider), 2000-3800 strokes/min. The calculated M/sec "performance" value is greater than all competitive beadbeater-type cell disrupters on the market.
• Throw or stroke displacement: 7/8 inches
• Timer: 0-5 minute digital, with auto reset
• Removable vial-holding cassette
• No imposed motor cool-down-time between each sample run
• The Mini-BeadBeater-24 uses standard screw-cap plastic microvials. Stainless steel microvials or special reinforced polypropylene microvials ( XXTuff vials ) are available for dry- or cryo-milling with steel beads. Eight larger capacity, 7 ml vials can be processed using an accessory vial-holding ring (see Accessories link below).

Mini-Beadbeater-96

• The Mini-Beadbeater-96 is high-energy, high-throughput cell disrupter. In a single 1-3 minute batch run it handles up to 192 samples using a deep-well microplate format or 45 samples in 1.5 or 2 ml screw-cap microvials. In a busy day thousands of samples can be processed. 
• One 45 capacity microvial rack, 702VH45, is included. Beads and vials will vary with the application and should be ordered separately. 
• The MiniBeadbeater-96 uses a huge 1 hp induction motor. No other beadbeater on the market has higher shaking energies available for cell disruption. Power requirements for the 115 VAC MBB-96 is 20 amps, and for the 230 VAC machine it is 10 amps.
• Sample Capacity: Holds one 2 ml deep-well microplate or two 1 ml deep-well microplates up to 45 microvials (0.5, 1.5 & 2.0 ml), with each vial or well capable of processing up to 400 mg (wet weight) of biomaterial. When using deep well microplates possible leakage and subsequent cross contamination between wells is a concern. While the entire mat surface area is evenly clamped to the microplate during beadbeating in the Mini-BeadBeater-96, the user must first thoroughly press the mat onto the microplate during the initial sealing process. Rollers and mat presses are available to help in this task (see accessories).
• Vial displacement distance or Throw: 1.25 in. (3.2 cm).
• Shaking Speed: 40 oscillations/second or 2400 oscillations/min. Disruption efficiency has been engineered to be equivalent to MBB models having smaller vial capacities - thus all developed protocols are interchangeable. The calculated M/sec "performance" value is greater than all competitive beadbeater-type cell disrupters on the market.
• 3-D shaking pattern: Vial contents shake from the top to bottom of the vial or plate in a compressed figure-8 pattern. Vials and microplates are held in a near-horizontal orientation rather than the less efficient vertical position. This exclusive shaking pattern assures complete cell disruption in the shortest possible time. No reorientation of plates in mid-cycle is required.
• Recycle delay time: No motor cool-down time is required during or between sample runs.
• Maintenance: None
• Warranty: Two years.

FAQ

Does the Mini-Beadbeater use skirted or unskirted tubes?

Both! You can use skirted or unskirted screw-cap tubes in the Mini-Beadbeater. (You cannot use snap-cap tubes.)

Can I put the Mini-BeadBeater in a 4°C room?

It is not recommended. The grease used to lubricate various components is more viscous at lower temperatures, which can lead to increased wear on the motor and other parts. A Mini-BeadBeater-96 may not start at all under such conditions. Additionally, if there is condensation, it could lead to corrosion.

While it is ultimately your decision, damage caused due to operation outside normal laboratory temperatures will not be covered under warranty, and you should expect a shorter operating life.