IKA ULTRA-TURRAX Tube Drive single-use dispersion system, 300 to 6,000 rpm, up to 5,000 mPas, 0003646000

Samples contaminated with pathogens, toxic substances or strong odours quickly push an open dispersion system to its limits. Cleaning is required after every run, and a residual risk of cross-contamination remains. The ULTRA-TURRAX Tube Drive solves this problem by using sealed, single-use tubes that are fitted directly onto the drive unit. Homogenisation, dispersion, stirring and grinding take place within the hermetically sealed vessel; the tube then serves as both a transport and storage container. For pathology, human and veterinary medicine, food analysis and related fields of research, this means sample processing without the need for open handling of the material.

Drive unit without a display, designed for routine operation

The speed is continuously adjustable between 300 and 6,000 revolutions per minute, read off a scale rather than a display. The motor’s power consumption is 20 watts, with 17 watts output; this is sufficient for samples with a viscosity of up to 5,000 mPas. Without a tool attached, the unit remains quiet at 50 dB(A), a level that is barely noticeable when used next to a fume cupboard. Anyone looking for a robust solution without menu navigation, and who sets the speed based on experience rather than display readings, will be well served by this basic model from the Tube-Drive range.

Compact design for a spot next to the workbench

Measuring 100 x 40 x 160 millimetres and weighing 0.75 kilograms, the drive unit takes up very little floor space. An external power supply provides 24 V DC at 800 mA; the unit itself operates on 100 to 240 V at 50 or 60 Hz and draws 20 watts. An IP 20 protection rating in accordance with DIN EN 60529 and a permissible operating range of 5 to 40 degrees Celsius at up to 80 per cent relative humidity make it suitable for use in a laboratory or an air-conditioned adjoining room, but not for field applications. The speed deviation is 10 per cent; this is sufficient for simple homogenisation and the grinding process in sealed tubes, as it is not the exact speed that matters here, but the result achieved after a fixed running time.

Typical applications

• Digestion and homogenisation of tissue, blood and cell samples in human and veterinary medicine
• Sample preparation in pathology and at animal health institutes
• Testing of food samples for pathogens or residues
• Research in toxicology, pharmaceutical biology, biochemistry and tumour biology, where cross-contamination between batches must be ruled out
• Chemistry and cosmetics laboratories carrying out recurring small-scale preparations

Suitable single-use mixing vessels are available as separate accessories for all the areas mentioned, including stirring (ST), dispersing (DT) and bead mixing vessels (BMT) in 20 and 50 millilitres, as well as sterile IVD variants. If you already know the sample volume and the type of processing required, you can select the appropriate tube directly.

Selection guide: Basic model or P control

The Tube Drive is the entry-level model in the range, featuring a scale display but without programmable settings. Those requiring recurring protocols with fixed time, energy and speed settings, or wishing to use a turbo button for short, intensive runs, will find what they need in the ULTRA-TURRAX Tube Drive P control version, which features an OLED display and a speed range of 400 to 8,000 rpm. Those who also want ready-to-use consumables should opt for the Tube Drive P control Workstation. For tissue samples from the surgical workflow, the UTTD basic Tissue Solution, featuring an IVD-certified sample vessel, is based on this basic model.

Technical details

Contents

• ULTRA-TURRAX Tube Drive drive unit
• Removal hook

Disposable mixing vessels from the ST, DT and BMT series are not included in the scope of delivery and must be ordered separately to suit the application and the required volume. For sterile applications relating to in vitro diagnostics, gamma-sterilised versions of the mixing vessels are also available.

Regulatory information

The device is an electrical appliance within the meaning of the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG). The WEEE registration number of the manufacturer IKA is DE 66784213. Information on the return of end-of-life equipment can be found on our Environment and Disposal page.

Warranty and procurement service

The ULTRA-TURRAX Tube Drive is covered by IKA’s manufacturer’s warranty: 2 years, extended to 3 years if registered at ika.com/register within 90 days of purchase. For single-use mixing vessels and other accessories, LT Laborhandel’s procurement service will put together a package tailored to sample volumes and applications, for example with the UTTD control Pharma Solution or the UTTD control Life Science Solution as pre-configured alternatives. For regulated environments, qualification documents (IQ/OQ) and factory calibration certificates are also available as separate accessories.