BeadBug™

BeadBug™Overview The BeadBug is a high energy benchtop homogenizer which homogenizes up to 3 samples simultaneously (often within 45 seconds) inside disposable 2ml screw cap microtubes. The optimized mixing motion causes rapid cell disruption through constant high velocity impact from the hardened micro beads chosen specifically for your sample type. The BeadBug has a footprint of just 7" x 8", giving it a small footprint to match its low price. Developed for

Overview

The BeadBug™ is a high energy benchtop homogenizer which homogenizes up to 3 samples simultaneously (often within 45 seconds) inside disposable 2ml screw cap microtubes. The optimized mixing motion causes rapid cell disruption through constant high velocity impact from the hardened micro-beads chosen specifically for your sample type.

The BeadBug has a footprint of just 7" x 8", giving it a small footprint to match its low price.  Developed for samples too tough to be homogenized in a common lab vortexer, the BeadBug provides a convenient and economical alternative for low-throughput or medium-throughput laboratories.

The optional "Triple Pure" Zirconium Bead Starter Kit contains 10 preps of each size of zirconium beads (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 3.0mm).  These "Triple Pure" beads are acid washed, heat treated, and nuclease free.  The starter kit provides a simple, inexpensive way to optimize your homogenization.

Key Attributes

Manufacturer Specifications

FAQ

Can I use normal 2 ml screw-cap tubes in the BeadBug?

As the tubes for the BeadBug are a standard size, you may use any 2 ml, polypropylene, non-skirted, screw-cap tubes with o-ringed caps.

How powerful is the BeadBug? Can it process very hard / tough samples?

The BeadBug is suitable for relatively soft samples as well as smaller samples of moderate toughness. For instance, most organ tissues will readily homogenize in the BeadBug, as well most cell cultures. Bone grinding is generally not possible. Highly cartilaginous samples may be difficult to homogenize, especially if they are large. Large pieces (> 100 mg) of very tough muscle tissue, such as cardiac tissue, may be difficult to homogenize.

Thin skin samples, or other thin samples of cartilaginous tissue, are usually possible when using the bead kit containing garnet shards and a zirconium satellite, especially if those samples are relatively small.

Is there any difference in power between the BeadBug, BeadBug 6, and BeadBlaster 24? 

Not a lot. The BeadBug 6 and BeadBlaster are about 10% more powerful than the original BeadBug.

The stroke of the BeadBug, BeadBug 6, and BeadBlaster 24 are the same. The BeadBug 6 and BeadBlaster 24 have the same absolute speed range - 4.0 m/s to 7.0 m/s. The speed of the original BeadBug has a slightly narrower range. In RPM (which is what the speed of the BeadBug is given in), the range is 2700 to 4000 RPM. In the BeadBug 6 and BeadBlaster 24, the speed range is 2400 to 4350 RPM.