Unico Life Sciences Equipment
Life Sciences include any scientific fields which involve the study of living things. This can include any organisms from microscopic bacteria to humans, plants, and animals. This is a broad field, comprising numerous specific areas of study. The majority of these areas can be divided between Biological and Medical life sciences.
Biology is a primary field within the life sciences. It is quite broad and overlaps with most other areas of the life sciences. The products in this group cover a broad range of laboratory equipment which is necessary in studies of this nature. Common biological life science fields include Biology, Anatomy & Genetics, Neuroscience, Toxicology, and Bioengineering.
The Medical life sciences focus on applying science to health-related issues. Most of these fields should be familiar to people who have visited a hospital. Common medical life science fields include Cardiology, Urology, Psychiatry, Dermatology, and Neurology.
Life Sciences Products
Bunsen Burner
The Bunsen Burner was invented by German scientist Robert Bunsen in 1855. The design for these devices has changed little since that time. Even today, most Bunsen Burners feature a simple metal body with adjustable air flow and a gas inlet at the base. The gas is ignited as it leaves the body, creating a simple gas burner which is ideal for heating samples in a laboratory environment.
Currently, Bunsen Burners from Electrothermal are available through TEquipment. These Bunsen Burners are different than the traditional type in that they are electric and use no gas. Integrated cooling vents and a detachable cowl mean these burners are safe and cool to handle even when in use. With the optional controller, temperature and power can be adjusted accurately.
Centrifuge
A centrifuge is a device which spins an object rapidly in order to subject it to centrifugal force. A clothes dryer is an example of a centrifuge. NASA is also a well-known user of centrifuges. When subjecting a sample to centrifugal force, the outward force on the sample causes liquids of different densities to separate or solids to separate from fluids. These devices are extremely common in life science fields.
Edvotek and Stuart are two popular brands with a range of centrifuge products. Both are available through TEquipment. Each brand offers centrifuges in different sizes with varying speeds for a range of scientific applications.
Colony Counter
Colony Counters exist to help in counting colonies of microorganisms which have grown in laboratory environments, typically inside Petri dishes. Without a dedicated instrument, this process can be long and frustrating.
Stuart offers an advanced colony counter, featuring adjustable pressure sensitive counting and an average count function. With the integrated magnifier and LED light, counting becomes faster and easier. When finished, export data to a computer via the included USB cable.
Dry Block Heater / Cooling Block
Dry Block Heaters provide precise temperature control for heating samples when repeatability is required. Most dry block heaters are compatible with a range of heating blocks for use with most popular sample tubes and plates. Certain units may include special features including light weight, quick heat-up, and cool-to-touch outer case.
Techne is a major manufacturer of dry block heaters, offering 3 and 4 block units in 100 and 200 degree C versions. Other brands including Stuart and Benchmark are also available, offering a range of products to meet most needs.
Flame Photometer
A flame photometer is a necessary device in inorganic chemistry when scientists must determine the concentration of certain metal ions including sodium, potassium, lithium, and calcium. In practice, these devices perform controlled flame tests in which the intensity of the flame color is quantified. Filters in these instruments select which flame colors are detected, providing data on the concentration of metals.
Jenway offers a range of flame photometers. These devices can detect sodium, potassium, calcium, barium and lithium concentrations. Units operate using propane, butane, natural gas, or liquid petroleum. An automatic flame failure detection feature makes these units very safe to use.
Fluidized Bed Bath
A fluidized bed bath is useful for efficiently and quickly heating components or samples because these objects are fully immersed in the bath. These baths are often filled with salt because of the greater convective heat transfer rate of molten salts.
Techne offers several fluidized bed baths and associated temperature controllers. These baths actually do not use salt in an effort to be safer. Efficient heating is still possible because as air passes through aluminum oxide particles in the unit, the particles separate and are suspended in air. This provides a safer alternative to salt bath heating with the same level of efficiency.
Flocculator
Flocculation is a process in which particles aggregate into clots or small lumps. A flocculator helps in this process by introducing a coagulant into a particulate mixture and consistently mixing samples via paddles to prevent stagnation.
Stuart offers several flocculators. These devices feature adjustable paddle rotation, 1-99 minute timer, and two pre-set programs. A separate coagulant doser is available from Stuart as an accessory.
Fluorometer
A fluorometer is a device which measures the intensity of fluorescence. These devices are used in biochemical fields in order to identify and quantify the number of specific molecules in a medium. As an example, these instruments are often used in botany to measure chlorophyll fluorescence and investigate plant physiology.
Fluorometers from Jenway provide high quality measurements via a rugged photodiode detector. These instruments excel in applications where higher levels of fluorescence are present.
Homogenizer
A homogenizer is a laboratory tool used for the homogenization of various materials including tissue, plant, food, soil, and more. Homogenization is used to make a mixture of two mutually non-soluble liquids the same throughout.
Benchmark and Stuart offer Homogenizers through TEquipment. Both types can homogenize most samples in about 30 seconds.
Gel Imaging Electrophoresis
Gel Electrophoresis is a technique used to organize DNA, RNA, and other protein molecules by size and/or electrical charge. Gels are typically made from agarose, a seaweed extract similar to gelatin.
TEquipment specializes in Gel Imaging Electrophoresis systems from Accuris.
Gelation Timer
Gelation is a term used to describe the process of an object becoming solid via cooling or freezing.
Techne is one of the pioneering brands within the field of gelation and gelation timing. The company has been making strides in this area for 60 years and as a result, several British Standards for gelation have been written with these instruments.
Heating Mantle / Electromantle
Heating Mantles are intended for heating scientific flasks and beakers in controlled environments. Various sizes are available to accommodate different containers. Electrothermal and Stuart manufacture high quality heating mantles. Specific units feature automatic cutout, aluminum outer case, and cool-to-touch ventilation.
Kjeldahl Apparatus
The Kjeldahl Method was developed by Johan Kjeldahl in 1883. It is a scientific process used in analytical chemistry to determine the amount of organic nitrogen in chemical substances. A Kjeldahl Apparatus is a device which carries out this process.
Electrothermal manufactures a range of Kjeldahl devices in various sizes. When using these units, the method consists of heating a substance with sulphuric acid, which decomposes the organic material by oxidation and releases reduced nitrogen.
Incubator
An incubator in life science is used to grow organisms under controlled conditions, where temperature can be closely monitored and regulated. Edvotek, Stuart, and Techne all manufacture incubators for life sciences. Certain units feature shakers and rotisserie functions.
Pipette
A pipette is used in life sciences to transfer liquid in a controlled manner when precise measurement is required. Accuris manufactures a pipette called the NextPette which features some of the easiest and most precise volume selection capabilities of any pipette to date. Edvotek and Stuart also manufacture high quality pipettes and pipette controllers for precise liquid handling.
Melting Point Apparatus
A melting point apparatus is a scientific instrument used to determine the melting point of a substance. Electrothermal and Stuart manufacture melting point instruments which are available through TEquipment.
Mixers, Rotators, and Stirrers
These products are meant to mix, stir, and rotate scientific samples. Products are available from Benchmark, Edvotek, Electrothermal, Stuart, and Techne.
Reaction Station
A reaction station can heat, cool, stir, and reflux multiple samples under an inert atmosphere. Reaction stations from Electrothermal are modular in design. They offer flexibility and productivity for benchtop chemistry while retaining the rugged controller design.
Recirculating Cooler
A recirculating cooler saves water by recirculating cool water through the device to keep samples cold. Stuart and Techne offer recirculating coolers with varying capabilities. Certain coolers can achieve temperatures of -20 degrees C or even colder.
Rotary Evaporator
A rotary evaporator is a device used in chemical laboratories for the efficient and gentle removal of solvents from samples by evaporation. Stuart rotary evaporators are some of the highest quality units on the market. Common applications include concentration of solutions, reclamation of solvents, vacuum drying of wet solids, and degassing liquids.
Sample Concentrator
A sample concentrator accelerates the concentration of large numbers of samples down to a matter of minutes. These devices are used for applications such as sample preparation, drug screening, hormone assays, chromatographic analysis, and scintillation counting. Stuart and Techne sample concentrators are available through TEquipment.
Shakers / Rockers
Benchmark, Edvotek, and Stuart manufacture shakers and rockers for laboratory use. These devices feature varying speeds and tilt angles and are available in various sizes. Some are optimized for blot washing and gel staining and are cold room and incubator safe.
Spectrophotometer
A spectrophotometer is used for measuring the intensity of light in a part of the spectrum. Typically, this light intensity is recorded as it is emitted or transmitted by certain substances and is used to draw conclusions about those substances. Jenway and Edvotek spectrophotometers are some of the most versatile available, and both are available from TEquipment.
Thermal Cycler / PCR
In biology, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to copy a particular DNA sequence up to millions of times. Techne thermal cyclers are easy to use and provide a powerful way to perform these actions. Each is backed by an industry-best 4 year warranty.
Water Bath / Liquid Bath
A water bath is a refrigerant device used to maintain precise temperature control while eliminating costs and dangers which are associated with dry ice or liquid nitrogen. Benchmark, Edvotek, Stuart, and Techne offer water bath products through TEquipment.
Water Still
A water still is used to distill water for use in experiments and other laboratory activities. Stuart manufactures a range of water stills which are fully automatic. These units feature high purity pyrogen free output, reservoir level control, and up to 8L/hr output for single distilled water. Units run off of any raw water supply.