BiOS
Our New Ultra-Low Temperature Automated Biological Storage System
The BiOS is Hamilton’s third-generation automated storage system specifically designed for storage of sensitive biological samples at temperatures down to -85°C. This system is capable of ensuring the integrity of 250,000 to >10 million sample tubes (based on 1.0 ml tubes in 96-position racks).
Our system provides the utmost in temperature stability, security, sample tracking, flexibility, and reliability required for biobanking, research operations, and forensic applications.
The Sample Integrity Store
Guaranteed temperature stability for maximum sample integrity
BiOS provides excellent temperature stability during sample storage in lid-covered chest freezer compartments. Special measures are taken to minimize warming events during internal processing, in addition to sample introduction and sample removal. One of the key components for this is our patented ultra- low temperature tube picker. As a result, BiOS prevents samples from significant temperature rises throughout their lifetime in the system.
Guaranteed sample safety
Up to three levels of redundancy for sample refrigeration are available to ensure complete sample safety in all possible scenarios. The samples are stored within self-contained, climate-controlled chest freezer compartments for temperature stability and energy efficiency.
Sample tracking
1-D and 2-D barcode reading guarantees full sample tracking not only during introduction and retrieval, but also for all internal processes. The BiOS Sample Inventory Software supports 21 CFR Part 11 compliance to support your laboratory and workflow’s compliance with rigorous standards.
The Flexible Store
Scalable and field upgradable system
The capacity of the BiOS can be scaled according to the specific storage needs of the customer. Additionally, with the assumption that room space is not a limitation, the storage system can be expanded in the field without removing the samples from the existing chest freezers operating at temperatures down to -85°C.
Storage of multiple labware types
Almost any labware stored in racks that are in conformity to SBS standards with a maximum height of 10cm can be stored in the BiOS system. A wide range of labware types can be processed in the tube reformation unit without the need for any mechanical changes. Specific areas of the overall BiOS storage system can be configured for specific labware heights.
The Workhorse Store
Redundant refrigeration and backup refrigeration for reliability
The BiOS system provides a fully redundant refrigeration system and additional backup refrigeration systems to be prepared for any kind of situation.
Process stability
The BiOS provides fully-monitored picking technology. Each single step during the picking process is monitored and tube gripping meets good practice.
Long-term processing over decades
The BiOS provides the option for an automated defrost mode of the entire storage system without warming-up the samples or compromising sample integrity.
Accessibility and serviceability
The BiOS system avoids placing drives, sensors or joints into the -85°C environment or even close to the -85°C temperature region. By keeping all automation and sensors in the easily accessible and easily serviceable -20°C region, high reliability and ease of serviceability are designed into the system.
Features &
Benefits
- Chest freezers guarantee ultra-low temperature— In the case of any process delay, malfunction, or system error, the cold stays pooled inside the storage compartment ensuring the temperature of the samples is maintained at temperatures down to -85°C.
- Ultra–low temperature picking—The ULT tube picker provides temperature stability throughout the sample’s entire workflow. Additionally, BiOS moves the tube picker to the storage location of the sample tubes instead of transporting the racks through warm -20°C air to a central tube picker. This minimizes robotic hand-offs and warming events.
- Simultaneous input/output—Racks of tubes or plates can be introduced or retrieved from BiOS while a pick list job is being performed. Additionally, users can introduce and retrieve samples individually or in bulk modes. This allows minimal temperature impact when handling samples outside the storage system on dry ice.
- Sample tracking—The samples’ locations are tracked throughout their lifetime in the system. Additionally, a temperature profile for each individual sample tube can be derived from the BiOS database.
- Security—Users may be granted differing levels of system operations with access restricted to specific sample sets.
- Scalable storage capacity—The capacity of the system can be scaled according to the specific needs of the customer, from 250K to >10 Mil sample tubes (based on 1.0 ml tubes in 96-position racks).
- Flexible storage and processing—BiOS provides storage for multiple labware types in configured compartments and picking of multiple tube types.
- Field upgradable—BiOS can be expanded without removing samples from their ultra-low temperature storage location.
- Automatic defragmentation— The automated defrag mode is an ongoing background process in the BiOS designed to optimize capacity at all times, even when no job is initialized by a user.
- Redundant refrigeration—BiOS provides an optional redundant refrigeration system to satisfy even the highest level of sample safety expected by users.
- Backup system—All refrigeration compartments are equipped with LN2 cooling backup in case of breakdown of the main power lines.
- No robotics in ultra low temperatures—All active automation and processing sensors are placed out of -80˚C areas in order to maximize reliability and allow maintenance and service to occur without warming up the samples.
Applications
- Biobanking
- Forensics
- DNA and RNA research
- Drug discovery
- Life science research
- Pharmacogenomics
- Genotyping
