This video demonstrates how to design, setup and run an execution on a FORMULATRIX Tempest®.
To Note:
Unlike other dispensers, the Tempest liquid transfers are performed using a unique dispense mechanism, via pulses of a diaphragm on a specific FORMULATRIX Tempest chip. Depending on the chip used, the dispense volumes will be achieved using pulses dispensing 200nl. However, this comes with some constraints that you should consider when implementing the FORMULATRIX Tempest in Synthace.
Synthace will account for the dispense resolution of the FORMULATRIX Tempest, allowing for a minimum transfer volume of 200 nl. As the device is constrained to dispensing in 200 nl pulses Synthace will only allow for volume transfers in 200 nl step-size. Please be aware of these constraints when creating your workflow for the Tempest device.
If you are intending on performing a Spacefill DOE with range levels on the Tempest, please keep this constraint in mind.
If your workflow is hitting these device constraints, your simulation will fail and you will be prompted to modify your final concentrations or modify your input concentrations, if applicable.
Tempest input plates
In Synthace, “Tempest Input Plate” is a simple one-size-fits-all plate that can be used with any Tempest workflow. Therefore, the user has the freedom to specify each chip type in the Tempest application. Currently, Synthace supports up to 12 input liquids per stage.
In the workflow settings, select “Tempest Input Plate” as your Input Plate Type.
Output Plates
The FORMULATRIX Tempest® is compatible with a wide variety of output plates (96-well, 384-well, 1536-well…) - as long as the Tempest application has the geometry of the plate.
Synthace aids this by providing the geometry of any plates used in a Synthace workflow - allowing the user to simply upload their plate file(s) to the Tempest application each time they use a new plate.
Setting Up For Execution
Download Device Instructions
Once you have created a workflow and simulation - in the Simulation Details page in Synthace press ‘START EXECUTION’ in the top-right. You will be taken to the Executions page.
In Execution Details, each device stage shows a reference table of the input and output plates required for each instructions file. Hover over each input and output plate to visualise what liquids it needs to contain at the start of the corresponding part of the run.
3. Download the instruction files by clicking on DOWNLOAD on the corresponding execution stage. Once you have completed the execution for Stage 1, click ‘MARK AS COMPLETE’ and add a comment (if desired). The status will change from ‘In progress’ to ‘Succeeded.’
4. Each instruction file contains the transfers from 1 input plate (representing a set of chips connected to source liquids) to 1 output plate. For stages with multiple output plates, the multidispense list enables you to handle all output plates automatically using a stacker. You will also find the plate definitions you might need for this stage among the downloaded files.
5. Repeat this process for any additional Stages in your experimental workflow.
Importing FORMULATRIX Tempest® plate files
If the output plate type you have selected in your Synthace workflow is not already defined in the Tempest application, you will need to import that plate definition before opening and running a protocol.
Open the Tempest application.
Select “Tools” from the toolbar - then “Open Data Folder…”
Open the “User” folder.
Place the .pd (plate definition) file(s), that you downloaded from Synthace, into the “Plates” folder.
Note: this it not necessary if you have used this plate with your FORMULATRIX Tempest® previously.
Defining reagents in the Tempest Reagent List
Each liquid you defined in Synthace will need to be defined in the Tempest reagent list.
Open the Tempest application.
Select “Tools” from the toolbar - then “Reagent List”.
Click “Add Reagent”.
Define the liquid name - as well as a Liquid Class and Dispense Mode.
Click "Save Changes"
Assign the liquids to chips, using the “Input Control” section.
Note: this only applies to new liquids - if you’re using a liquid you’ve used in the Tempest application previously, you won’t have to define that liquid again.
Importing FORMULATRIX Tempest® dispense list files
If the workflow uses only one output plate, Synthace will provide a single dispense list (.dl) - for the user to execute with or without a plate stacker.
If the workflow uses multiple output plates, Synthace will provide a multi-dispense list (.mdl) and individual dispense lists (.dl). The .mdl file controls the order of the dispense lists, and allows the user to execute multiple dispense lists sequentially - using a plate stacker
Running a single dispense list:
Open the Tempest application.
Once you have ensured all the liquids are defined in your Tempest Reagent List, assign the liquids to chips - in the “Input Control” section of the Tempest application.
Select “Tools” from the toolbar - then “Open Data Folder…”
Open the “User” folder.
Place the .dl (dispense list) file(s), that you downloaded from Synthace, into the “DispenseLists” folder
Click “Open Dispense List” to load your dispense list.
Running a multi-dispense list:
Once you have ensured all the liquids are defined in your Tempest Reagent List, assign the liquids to chips - in the “Input Control” section of the Tempest application.
Follow instructions 1-4 above to place all your dispense lists into the “DispenseLists” folder.
Place the .mdl (multi-dispense list) file into the “MultiDispenseLists” folder
Under “Stacker settings”, enable the plate stacker.
Note: the plate stacker must be enabled in order to run multi-dispense lists.
Under “Dispense Settings” → Run Multi Dispense List, select “Yes”.
Press the “Run Dispense” button, then “Load Multi Dispense List File” - and select your multi-dispense list file to load the dispense lists associated with the multi-dispense list.
Once the multi-dispense list has loaded, run your protocol.