Stories & Features
Make the Switch to IDEX Health Science Switching Valves
Oct 2, 2024
by
IDEX Health & Science
What is a Switching Valve?
A switching valve can be manual or automatic. These valves have different channel connections/ ports to meet various fluidic system requirements that guide the changing direction of fluid flow. They switch or select which fluid stream goes where in a fluidics system.
Manual vs. Automatic Switching Valves
Manual switching valves are suitable for low pressure applications where the operator needs complete control of fluid flow. These valves are ideal for low frequency use, or involves the injection of varying sample volumes.
Automated switching valves are suitable for high-pressure applications that require consistent and fast fluid switching, or have small flow paths and high torque operation. These valves can be controlled with programming software such as IDEX Health & Science’s Python Library powered by Python.
Two-Position Switching Valve vs. Multi-Position Selector Valve
Two-position switching valves are designed to alternate between two fluid paths without manually disconnecting plumbing. In Chromatography, these valves can be used for sample injection, column switching, back flushing, sample enrichment, and other applicable techniques. In diagnostic or proteogenomic applications these switching valves may alternate flow paths to enable necessary fluidic tasks within the instrument.
In proteogenomic or diagnostic assays, these valves can be used for column switching, fraction collection, or to select between six different mobile phases. In diagnostic or sequencing applications, the selection valve alternates between different reagents or sample streams. Multi-position selector valves enable discrete connections among multiple system liquids through a common central port (inlet or outlet) connected to several reciprocal ports.
Benefits and Features of IDEX Health & Science Switching Valves:
- Low swept volume
- Eliminate carryover concerns
- Enable the use of air gaps for segmented flow
- Compatible with magnetic beads No holding current, low current draw for delayed valve movements
- No pulsation, pumping action
- Each valve is factory-tested to specifications
- Available as standalone (for use with tubing and fittings) or manifold mountable
Featured Reagent Selection Switching Valves:
- TitanHP 8/9 Valve
- TitanHP 12/13
- TitanHT 24/25 Valve
Featured Chromatography Switching Valves:
Partner with us for Your Next Switching Valve Project
Meet the lifetime requirements of your workflow with IDEX Health & Science fluidic control valves. A single valve enables the discrete distribution of up to 24 system buffers, reagents, or wash solutions, simplifying the flow selection pathway and ensuring precise fluid delivery. Whether your application demands salt solutions, fast cycle times, or zero carryover, IDEX Health & Science has a proven valve solution, tested to millions of cycles, ensuring maximum system uptime.
IDEX Health & Science Library
Speed up the programming of your IDEX Health & Science pumps, valves, degassers, and sensors while eliminating the need for several iterations. Save weeks of development time using Python™ programming language to abstract low level communication protocols and quickly write the methods required to control IDEX Health & Science hardware components.
IDEX Health & Science offers a wide selection of easy-to-use switching valves.
Learn More About Our Valve Solutions
Manifold Valve Assembly
A manifold valve assembly is used for fluid management in your instrument platform. Rather than the valve being connected by tubing and fittings, the valve is mounted directly onto a PEEK, acrylic, or Ultem manifold. Multiple valves can be mounted onto a single manifold, eliminating excess lengths of tubing and negating the need for overfilling reagent lines.
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