BRAND HandyStep® touch S Continuous Dispenser

Overview

The BRAND HandyStep® touch S is a high-precision motorized continuous dispenser engineered for reproducible, low-risk liquid handling in regulated and research-intensive laboratory environments. Unlike traditional piston-driven pipettes or manual repeater dispensers, the HandyStep® touch S operates on a positive displacement principle using a disposable syringe-based system—ensuring consistent volumetric delivery across its full dynamic range (1.0 µL to 50 mL) without reliance on air cushion compression. This architecture eliminates common sources of error associated with temperature-dependent air expansion, humidity-induced condensation, or viscosity-related under-delivery—making it particularly suitable for handling volatile solvents, glycerol-rich buffers, serum, cell suspensions, and high-density reagents. Its fully sealed drive mechanism and IP54-rated enclosure provide robust protection against accidental splashes and particulate ingress during routine benchtop use.

Key Features

• Full-color 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen with intuitive icon-driven menu navigation and contextual on-screen help—designed for glove-compatible operation and rapid protocol selection.
• Dual operating modes: Standard continuous dispensing and programmable step dispensing (up to 99 steps per sequence), each configurable with independent volume, pause duration, and dispense speed settings.
• Integrated real-time volume tracking and remaining capacity monitoring—displayed continuously during operation with automatic low-volume alerts.
• Motorized precision drive with closed-loop feedback control ensures repeatable delivery performance across all volumes within ±0.6% accuracy (per ISO 8655-3 calibration standards).
• Interchangeable syringe adapters supporting BRAND-certified glass and polypropylene syringes (1 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 25 mL, and 50 mL), each pre-calibrated and traceable to national metrology institutes.
• Optional inductive charging station enables cordless operation with battery life exceeding 12 hours under typical usage conditions (based on 100 dispenses/hour at 100 µL/step).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The HandyStep® touch S accommodates a broad spectrum of liquid classes—including aqueous solutions, organic solvents (e.g., DMSO, ethanol, acetone), viscous media (up to 500 mPa·s), and particulate-laden suspensions—without compromising delivery fidelity. All wetted components are chemically resistant to common laboratory reagents and sterilizable via autoclaving (syringes and tips) or ethanol wipe-down (dispenser body). The device complies with CE marking requirements under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745) and conforms to ISO 13485:2016 for quality management systems in medical device manufacturing. Calibration documentation supports GLP/GMP traceability, and audit trails generated by the optional PC software meet FDA 21 CFR Part 11 data integrity requirements when used in regulated QC/QA workflows.

Software & Data Management

A dedicated Windows-based configuration and reporting software (HandySoft® v3.2) enables advanced protocol creation, firmware updates, user access control (three-tier permission levels), and export of timestamped dispensing logs in CSV or PDF format. Each log entry includes operator ID, syringe lot number, ambient temperature/humidity (if external sensor connected), dispense volume, speed setting, and deviation from nominal value. Audit trail functionality records all parameter changes, user logins, and calibration events with immutable timestamps—facilitating internal audits and regulatory inspections. Raw data files are stored in encrypted SQLite databases compliant with ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available).

Applications

• High-throughput assay setup: serial dilution of standards, plate coating with antibodies or enzymes, and reagent addition to ELISA or cell-based assay plates.
• QC sample preparation: precise spiking of reference standards into environmental or pharmaceutical matrices prior to GC/HPLC analysis.
• Bioprocessing support: buffer exchange, media supplementation, and inoculum transfer in upstream bioreactor workflows.
• Clinical diagnostics: standardized dispensing of calibrators, controls, and patient samples into immunoassay cartridges or microfluidic chips.
• Academic research: quantitative delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes, lipid nanoparticles, or organoid culture media requiring sub-microliter precision and shear-sensitive handling.

FAQ

What syringe sizes are supported by the HandyStep® touch S?
The device accepts BRAND-certified syringes in five nominal volumes: 1 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 25 mL, and 50 mL—all equipped with integrated RFID tags for automatic recognition and parameter optimization.
Is the touchscreen interface compatible with laboratory gloves?
Yes—the capacitive display is calibrated for reliable actuation with standard nitrile, latex, and powder-free laboratory gloves (thickness ≤ 0.15 mm).
Can dispensing protocols be exported and shared between instruments?
Yes—protocols saved in .hsp format can be transferred via USB flash drive or network share and loaded onto any HandyStep® touch S unit running firmware v2.4 or later.
Does the device support integration with LIMS or ELN systems?
Through HandySoft®, users may export structured dispensing logs compatible with common LIMS ingestion APIs; direct two-way integration requires custom middleware development using the provided SDK.
How often does the instrument require recalibration?
BRAND recommends annual calibration verification using traceable gravimetric methods per ISO 8655-3; field verification checks are advised before critical runs or after mechanical impact.