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Spectradyne nCS1 Operation Manual

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Spectradyne nCS1
Operation Manual
© Spectradyne LLC

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Summary of Contents for Spectradyne nCS1

  • Page 1 Spectradyne nCS1 Operation Manual © Spectradyne LLC...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Contents The nCS1 Instrument: Overview & Specifications ................. 5  Specifications ..........................5  Instrument Setup and Sample Prep ....................6  Setting up the nCS1 ........................6  Cleaning cartridge ......................... 6  Calibration Sample and First Run ....................6  Loading the Cartridge ........................7 ...
  • Page 3 Remove the used cartridge ....................18  Insert the next analysis cartridge (if continuing with measurements) ......18  nCS1 Shutdown Procedure ......................18  Run the Cleaning Cartridge & Shutdown routine ..............18  Remove the running buffer bottles and refrigerate ............18 ...
  • Page 4 3.  Combine and Compare ...................... 32  3.1  Combine multiple Stats files into a single Combined file ........32  3.2  Compare Multiple Analyses ..................32  Data Export ..........................34  More Information and Technical Support ................... 35  Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...

  • Page 5: The Ncs1 Instrument: Overview & Specifications

    The nCS1 Instrument: Overview & Specifications The nCS1 is a powerful tool for obtaining detailed size and concentration information about particle distributions in liquids. The core technology utilized in the nCS1 is called Resistive Pulse Sensing (RPS), also referred to as the Coulter Principle, and is a truly orthogonal...

  • Page 6: Instrument Setup And Sample Prep

    Cleaning cartridge After setting up the nCS1 for the first time, or after any significant period of inactivity, the cleaning cartridge routine should be performed using the reusable cleaning cartridge supplied with the instrument. Refer to page 15 of this guide for instructions.

  • Page 7: Loading The Cartridge

     Ensure the nCS1 control software is running on the attached computer.  Press the cartridge engage button on the front of the nCS1 to raise the cartridge into the instrument. The top indicator light (white) will illuminate to indicate that the cartridge is ready for priming.
  • Page 8 Figure 3. Left panel shows the sample pipetted into the analysis cartridge. Right panel shows the front panel of the Spectradyne nCS1: On the left side is the cartridge insertion slot, and on the right are the cartridge engage button and indicator lights.

  • Page 9: Ncs1 Control And Data Acquisition Software

    Control and Data Acquisition Software Enter Run Details Description of fields (see Figure 4):  Save Location: Use the folder icon to specify a location for saving data.  Data File Prefix: Specify a prefix for all data files to be saved (optional).

  • Page 10: Fill Monitors

    Is the conductivity of the sample too low?  Are the particles in the sample too highly  concentrated?  There may be an issue with the cartridge: Try measuring the sample in a new cartridge.  Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...

  • Page 11: Acquisition Control

     Raw data file names have the following format:  <prefix>_YYYYMMDD_NNNN.h5  Record significant acquisition numbers in your notes for future reference. Balance Monitor  When the bias is ON, the Balance monitor indicates the electrical balance of the system. Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...

  • Page 12: Single-Mode Data Acquisition

    “ON” button in the Acquisition Control frame.  Flagged acquisitions are highlighted blue in the Viewer software for rapid identification (refer to the Data Analysis and Viewer Software section on page 21 of this guide). Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...

  • Page 13: Utilities

    It requires a reusable cleaning cartridge. This routine must be run before the nCS1 is shut down.  Insert the reusable cleaning cartridge provided with the nCS1 and raise it into the instrument.  Press the “Run Cleaning Cartridge & Shutdown” button (Figure 8) to begin the automated process.

  • Page 14: Less/More

    The Manual Pressure Control Frame allows individual pressure setting at each port on the cartridge.  IMPORTANT: These controls should only be used after consultation with a Spectradyne technician  IMPORTANT: P1 IN port must always have the higher pressure setting than the rest of the ports ...

  • Page 15: Bias Setting

    Manual Utilities Figure 11. Manual Utilities frame. Run Cleaning Cartridge Only This automatic sequence flushes the internal fluid lines of the nCS1 and requires a reusable cleaning cartridge.  Click the “Run Cleaning Cartridge” button and follow the prompts.  Wait for the routine to complete.

  • Page 16: Drain Bottle Lines

    Automatic Processing of Raw Data  Flagged acquisitions are placed in the Auto-analysis Engine queue for automatic processing into Spectradyne Stats files.  Raw data is processed using standard parameters (refer to page 24 for details): o Peak Detection Threshold: 3.0 x the standard deviation of the baseline noise.

  • Page 17: Live Csd - Quantitative Real-Time Data Analysis

     Follow the instructions in the prompts at the end of the routine.  NOTE: The cleaning cartridge routine must be performed before shutting down the nCS1. Prepare the next cartridge for analysis (if continuing with measurements)  Prepare the sample as necessary.

  • Page 18: Remove The Used Cartridge

     After completion of the End Run routine, lower the stage by pressing the button on the front panel of the instrument and remove the cartridge.  The nCS1 is now ready for the next measurement run—load a new cartridge for analysis.

  • Page 19: Maintenance And Sample Preparation Guidelines

     Add approximately 25-50 mL of deionized water to each of the two buffer bottles, and replace in the instrument.  Follow the steps of the nCS1 Shutdown Procedure described on page 18, using DI water in place of running buffer.

  • Page 20: Guidelines For Sample Preparation

     Sample diluent and calibration particles:  If ionic strength or surfactant in the diluent is a concern, then lower values can be used.  For first-run analyses, Spectradyne highly recommends mixing calibration particles of a known size (typically NIST-traceable polystyrene beads) with the analyte.

  • Page 21: Data Analysis And Viewer Software

     This step yields the final CSD for the collection of measurements. 3. Combine & Compare:  The collection of refined Spectradyne Stats files is saved as a single combined file.  The CSDs of different samples are quantitatively compared at the combined file level.

  • Page 22: Data Viewer Software User Interface

    Data Viewer Software User Interface Figure 14. Overview of the Spectradyne Viewer software user interface. Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...

  • Page 23: Select & Process Raw Data

    In a typical workflow, data to be used in analysis will have been flagged at the time of acquisition, and processed into Spectradyne Stats files by the Auto-analysis Engine (see page 16). In such a scenario, the user may skip to the section, “Viewing the Results of Raw Data Processing”...

  • Page 24: Processing Raw Data

    Each raw data file is analyzed to count and measure particles detected during acquisition. The result of this analysis is a Spectradyne Stats file that contains detailed information about all particles detected during the acquisition as well as the acquisition itself.

  • Page 25: Viewing The Results Of Raw Data Processing

    Ensure that the Stats files of interest are loaded into the Currently Loaded files list. Concentration Spectral Density (CSD):  The nCS1 is capable of very high resolution size and concentration measurements of particles in a liquid, and is well suited for characterizing and comparing subpopulations of particles in polydisperse mixtures.
  • Page 26 (e.g., transit time) for each detected particle event.  The plot mode selected in the QuickView Processed Data frame determines whether data from a single Stats file or multiple Stats files will be displayed. Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...
  • Page 27  CSDs corresponding to measurements of the same sample should be consistent with each other—any outliers should be removed from the Currently Loaded list using the red “X” button below the list. Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...

  • Page 28: Refine & Filter

    Note: Treating multiple datasets as one for Refine and Filter  In the QuickView Processed Data frame of the Spectradyne Viewer, use the Combined plot mode to display data from all the loaded Stats files as a single dataset.

  • Page 29: Filter The Set Of Detected Particles To Exclude False-Positives

    The signal-to-noise, peak symmetry, and transit time parameters are all available for use as filter parameters. Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...
  • Page 30 A general sense for an appropriate S/N cutoff can also be obtained by inspecting peaks in the raw data (Figure 16 and “Viewing the Results of Raw Data Processing,” page 25). Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...
  • Page 31 Procedure for removing false-positives from the set of detected peaks  Load the desired Stats files into the Currently Loaded files list  Navigate to the Peak Filtering tab of the Spectradyne Viewer  Use the appropriate action buttons in the Filters frame of the Peak Filtering tab to apply and remove existing filters as desired from files in the Currently Loaded file list.

  • Page 32: Combine And Compare

    3.2 Compare Multiple Analyses  Load the analyses of interest into the Currently Loaded file list.  In the QuickView Processed Data frame of the Spectradyne Viewer, select Plot Mode Multi.  Use the tools in the Data Visualization and Quantification tabs of the Viewer to make quantitative comparisons of the analyses.
  • Page 33 Figure 18. Quantification of a CSD plot. The peak is fit to a Gaussian distribution and the concentration of particles in the range of 200-300 nm is measured directly. Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...

  • Page 34: Data Export

    Export Measured Concentration for User-specified Integration Ranges:  Click the “Integration Range Report” button in the export frame.  Specify the desired export options  Click “Export” and specify a file name and save location for the report. Spectradyne Confidential Version 2.3.6 Revision 0, December 2017...

  • Page 35: More Information And Technical Support

    More Information and Technical Support More detailed information on the operation of the nCS1 and its software can be obtained by sending email to support@spectradynellc.com. At Spectradyne we are eager to help with your particle analysis. Please contact us for help with specific measurement challenges and for help with the analysis of specific particle populations.

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