Bruker BioSciences Corp. (BRKR)

[MSC290]

Bruker article in R&D Magazine (BRKR)

New Tools for Spectroscopy in the Life Sciences

New spectrometers and improvements to existing spectrometers enhance the quality of life science research.

The life sciences are but one of the areas which are benefiting from improved spectroscopy devices and methods. Proteomics, metabolomics, and biomarker profiling all use mass spectroscopy and will advance with these new products.

These new spectroscopy instruments and improvements have been introduced at various trade shows over the past few months. Indeed, at Pittcon 2007 in Chicago, Ill., spectroscopy products were the overwhelming favorites of the editors attending the conference, with spectrometers winning the majority of the Editors’ Choice Awards (see R&D Magazine, April 2007).

In addition to winning the Bronze Editors’ Choice Award for its ALPHA FT-IR spectrometer at Pittcon, Bruker Optics, Billerica, Mass., also added mid-IR capabilities with multiple fiber optic ports to its MATRIX series spectrometers. The new MATRIX-MF is a process ready FT-IR spectrometer that is ideal for real-time monitoring and analysis of chemical and biological reactions.

The MATRIX-MF is the smallest footprint FT-IR spectrometer with an automated built-in multiplexer. Up to 6 reactions can be monitored using a single instrument. The system uses the Bruker quick connector (BQC) design for easy and fast exchange of fiber optic probes. A wide range of probe adaptations, including Bruker’s new diamond ATR probe, can be attached to the unit for in situ analysis. An integrated MCT detector with a Stirling-cycle cooler s available for conditions in which continuous unattended operation is desirable or liquid nitrogen is not available.

Bruker BioSpin, Billerica, Mass., announced the Avance III NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectrometer at Pittcon. It is a platform for life science and materials research, as well as a robust, automated, easy-to-use NMR analysis system for pharma/biotech, chemistry, metabolomics, nutritional science, and molecular diagnostics research.

The Avance III spectrometer is designed around an advanced digital concept that provides an optimized pathway for highest speed RF generation and data acquisition with a highly modular and scalable transmitter and receiver channel architecture. It also features a digital lock for experimental stability, and second-generation (2G-DR technology) for high dynamic range, high digital resolution, and large bandwidth digital filtering. The result is an extremely fast spectrometer with 25 ns event timing (12.5 ns clock), including simultaneous phase, frequency, and amplitude switching.

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