Microfluidic Flow Control System

Features

Easy pressure and vacuum control

Direct and precise pressure control through the dial knob

Stable flow control

Pair it with a flow sensor for long-term and controlled perfusion

Intitutive user interface

Control pressure and flow with or without a computer

Portable, compact and standalone

Perfect bench size with its own pressure source

 

Highlights

Choose between two Cobalt versions; both allow either gas or flow control when paired with a flow sensor.

• 0 to 2000 mbar positive pressure control
• -700 to 1000 mbar dual vacuum & pressure control

The Cobalt technology improved microfluidic instrument performance and made ease of utilization a reality. This autonomous microfluidic pump was engineered based on the OB1 MK4 controller – our Elveflow® best-seller – using the Piezoelectric-based pressure regulation.

The Elveflow® Cobalt autonomous microfluidic pump offers superior fluidic performances compared to microfluidic syringe or peristaltic pumps. It generates smooth flow with the highest accuracy since it does not use a mechanical piece to produce pressure, .

When paired with the MFS flow sensor from our product line, Cobalt generates powerful flow control with:

• high stability on a 0 to 5ml/min range: repeatability from 3.5 nl/min (MFS2) up to 1 µl/min (MFS5) in water
• high accuracy: from 20 nl/min (MFS2) up to 10 µl/min (MFS5) in water

For more details, please refer to the MFS series specifications.

Cobalt is the ideal benchtop companion. It is equipped with a pressure (and vacuum) source so it does not require an external compressor or laboratory gas supply. Its design minimizes vibrations and sound volume.

Cobalt’s intuitive firmware can be fully controlled without the need of external software. Its user-friendly interface contains a knob button for easy setting modifications.

 

Applications

Cobalt is the perfect companion to go beyond basic fluid control for a wide range of applications:

• Lab-on-chip development
• Bench test or characterisation (chips, sensors, filters, etc)
• Mechanobiology (cell confinement, tissue engineering, etc)
• Cell perfusion

 

Specifications

	COBALT	COBALT-DUAL
Pneumatics
Type of pressure	Positive	Positive & negative
Pressure range	0 to 2000 mbar (0 to 29 psi)	-700 to 1000 mbar (-10 to 14 psi)
Minimum pressure increment	Embedded instrument software (1mbar) Cobalt computer software (0.1mbar)
Pressure stability	0.1 mbar
Response time	Embedded instrument software: down to 10 ms Cobalt computer software: down to 100 ms
Settling time	Down to 75 ms	Down to 105 ms
Supply pressure	No pressure source needed (integrated)	No pressure & vacuum source needed (integrated)
Flow control
Flow sensor compatibility	Possibility to pair 1 flow sensor from the Elveflow MFS series (MFS2, 3, 4, 5).
Flow rates (indicative, please refer to the MFS series)	MFS2: 0 to 7 µl/min  |  MFS3: 0 to 80 µl/min  |  MFS4: 0 to 1000 µl/min  |  MFS5: 0 to 5000µl/min
Flow sensor calibration	User-friendly automated sensor calibration module
Liquid compatibility	Non contact Any aqueous or organic solvent, oil, or biological sample solution.
Control & monitoring
User interfaces	Embedded software on Cobalt Cobalt computer software (Windows) on PC
Cobalt Software added functionalities	Custom profile: design, upload, download Recording data: download
Maximum recording time	Embedded instrument software: up to 6000 sec depending on recording frequency Cobalt computer software: unlimited
Other
Output connector	Quick Connect
Power consumption	36 W (100 V to 240 V – 50 Hz to 60 Hz)
Case dimensions	328 x 235 x 168 mm (l x w x h)
Weight	3.3 kg	4.1 kg

 

	EMBEDDED INSTRUMENT SOFTWARE	COBALT COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Type of pressure	Yes	Yes
Pressure control	Yes	Yes
Flow control	Yes	Yes
Internal calibration	Yes	Yes
Auto sensor detection	Yes	Yes
Record data: start-stop	Yes	Yes
Record data: configure	Yes	Yes
Record data: download	–	Yes
Custom waveform: design	–	Yes
Custom waveform: upload	–	Yes
Custom waveform: run	Yes	Yes
Error messages	Yes	Yes
Stop mode	Yes	Yes
Freeze mode	Yes	Yes