South San Francisco, California — Fluxion Biosciences announced today a product expansion for its IonFlux automated patch clamp system which includes full automation and walk-away capability. New software drivers and hardware upgrades enable use of Tecan’s Freedom EVO® liquid handler series and accessories. This ensures automated plate preparation at a pace that fully optimizes the throughput of Fluxion’s ion channel screening platform.

The IonFlux automated patch clamp system provides flexibility, time and cost savings compared with manual patch clamp rigs and first-generation automated electrophysiology systems. It is ideal for a wide range of ion channel screening applications and provides throughput up to 10,000 or more assays per day. The IonFlux system provides an extremely compact plate reader format making it ideal for liquid handler integration. The liquid handler capability is now a standard part of the IonFlux offering and existing systems can be upgraded. “The high throughput capability of our IonFlux system makes manual pipetting impractical,” explained Dr. Cristian Ionescu-Zanetti, Chief Technology Officer of Fluxion. “Automated liquid handling integration enables plate preparation to keep up with IonFlux system throughput, and allows full walk-away capability of up to four hours. Additionally, multiple IonFlux systems can be arrayed with a single liquid handler to increase throughput even more. While many of our customers are integrating the IonFlux system with liquid handlers they already have on site, this integration allows us to deliver a complete automation solution.”

With the Tecan component integration, the IonFlux system is now available with a wide range of options that can be tailored to the customer’s requirements. Available options include incubators, centrifuges for cell handling, dispensers and plate-grippers for liquid handling and plate transfer. Software integration between the two systems ensures simple, single-point control of the entire assay workflow.

About Fluxion Biosciences

Fluxion Biosciences provides cellular analysis tools for use in critical life science research and drug discovery applications. Fluxion’s proprietary microfluidic platform enables precise functional analysis of individual cells in a multiplexed format. Products include the BioFlux™ system for studying cellular interactions, and the IonFlux™ system for high throughput ion channel screening. Fluxion’s systems meet the rigorous demands of life science and drug discovery scientists by providing an intuitive, easy-to-use operating system for single-cell biology. For more information about Fluxion Biosciences, visit www.fluxionbio.com.

About Tecan

Tecan (www.tecan.com) is a leading global provider of laboratory instruments and solutions in biopharmaceuticals, forensics, and clinical diagnostics. The company specializes in the development, production and distribution of automation solutions for laboratories in the life sciences sector. With its subsidiary REMP (www.remp.com), Tecan is the market leader in automated laboratory storage and logistics systems. Its clients include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, university research departments and diagnostic laboratories. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has manufacturing, research and development sites in both North America and Europe and maintains a sales and service network in 52 countries. In 2008, Tecan generated sales of CHF 396 million (USD 366.7 million; EUR 250.7 million). Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (TK: TECN/Reuters: TECZn.S/Swiss security number: 1210019).

Tecan and Freedom EVO are registered trademarks of Tecan Group Ltd., Mannedorf, Switzerland.