COPAS Flow Cytometers

Accessory Modules

A variety of optional modules are available to add specific enhanced capabilities to your COPAS system including choices of lasers, larger sample cups and an auto-sampler.

High Throughput Screening Option (HTS)

Integration Package for COPAS

The Integration Package for COPAS is a software and hardware option designed for High Throughput Screening applications requiring handling of large number of objects to be sorted and large numbers of multiwell plates. The additional software enables the COPAS instrument to be controlled by a plate handler or by the "Master Scheduler" of an integrated High Throughput Screening System. Additional status lights and sensors draw attention to the system when it needs attention. The system can be configured to stop and notify an operator via status lights or email when reservoirs need refilling or other attention is required.

Integration Software for Microplate Handlers

COPAS Integration Software Option "slaves" the COPAS so it can be controlled by a plate handler or by the "Master Scheduler" of an integrated High Throughput Screening System. Plate handler products may be purchased directly from their manufacturers.

LP Sampler™ Option

Large Particle Sampler

This is the only automated sample introduction system designed specifically for gentle handling of large, fragile objects such as:

• delicate cells/clusters (stem cell clusters, neurospheres, tumor spheroids)
• viable small multicellular model organisms (nematodes, Drosophila, zebrafish larvae)
• beads used as micro-carriers for clonal libraries
• seeds and fragile plant tissue

This autosampler is ideal for objects ranging from 10 to 1500 microns in diameter. It is capable of gently aspirating those samples from multiwell plates or a petri dish and delivering them intact to Union Biometrica’s COPAS™, BioSorter®, or VAST™ systems. It has the flexibility to handle a variety of standard or deep well plates including 24, 96 and 384.

Profiler Software (FlowPilot-Pro™)

Union Biometrica’s FlowPilot with Profiling software, FlowPilot-Pro, option package can take your sorting and analysis decisions to an entirely new level.

What if you could …

• Record up to 8,000 optical slices per model organism (or other object) thereby elucidating cell or organ level positional information?
• Detect weak fluorescence signals even in the presence of much stronger signals, even in the presence of background auto-fluorescence?

Banded Drosophila Embryo (head on left). (Transgenic Drosophila strain provided by Greg Beitel.)

The KS329 strain was constructed by Yanping Zhang and Mike Herman of Kansas State U. The GFP expression in the head neurons and the yellow protein expression in the vulva can be used as landmarks for assessing the position of the cells expressing red fluorescing protein from the mab-5 promoter.

Cell clusters growing inside Hydrogel beads

Beads formed around cells can be inspected by FlowPilot-Pro. COPAS can then be used to sort beads containing only one cell. As these cells grow & divide they form monoclonal clusters. (Courtesy of S.Panke and M.Walser, ETH, Zurich.) Here sorting can be accomplished based on Peak Width as a sign of cell proliferation.

FlowPilot-Pro offers:

• Multiple channels of simultaneous profiles, one for each of the optical parameters detected
• Independent channel scaling
• Enhanced sorting based on user-definable sort criteria for: Peak height, Peak width, Relative peak location, Number of peaks for each parameter, Area of peaks
• Regional analysis and sorting for areas of the ends or middle of each object

Rotating Sample Chamber

The Rotating Sample Introduction Chamber gently agitates samples without using mechanical stirring. Both 5 mL and 10 mL sample chambers are included. Use on a BioSorter instrument with either a 250 or 500 µm FOCA. The Rotating Sample Chamber is designed specifically for:

• handling extremely delicate samples (adipocytes, plant protoplasts, etc.)
• samples that tend to either float or sink in a sample cup with normal stirring-type agitation. Chamber can be used with 250 & 500 micron flow cells / FOCAs (order separately).

Typical use with a mouse adipocyte preparation enables analyzing 100 objects/second and dispensing intact adipocytes constituting 10% of the preparation.

Sample Cups

Samples are introduced via a standard 50 ml conical tube (40 ml working volume) with suspended stirrer. For larger samples optional 750 ml and 1500 ml stirred sample cups are available.