Tissue Homogenizer Pestles and Tubes
By Glas-Col Apparatus
Homogenizers consist of pestles, tubes, and a motor drive. Tubes and pestles are available in a variety of sizes and styles for particular tissue types. The tubes and pestles are manufactured to ensure precise fit, resulting in complete disruption of the tissue.
Straight homogenizers work best for softer tissues. Straight-sided and cylindrical, Potter-Elvehjem type pestles fit the precision bore tubes with a carefully controlled clearance. The pestle tip matches the tube bottom. Homogenization is accomplished by shearing action as the tube is moved up and down the revolving pestle.
Pestles are available in PTFE, for grinding softer tissues; reinforced PTFE, for grinding harder tissues; and glass, for tough tissue. PTFE pestles facilitate sterilization and reduce heat generation. Reinforced PTFE pestles contain 25% ground glass, are ten times harder than PTFE alone, yet still retain their chemical resistance and smooth surface.
PTFE pestles
- 1-5/8" (41.3mm) long PTFE tip on a 7" (178mm) long x 3/16" (4.76mm) diameter stainless steel shaft
- Shafts fit adjustable chuck on listed motor drive (Cat.No. 31-K54)
- All shafts specially notched to fit the quick-change chuck (Cat.No. 31-L11)
Glass pestles
- Medium ground-glass surface tip on 10mm diameter glass shaft
- S24 pestle is ground its entire length and is reversible for double life
- All shaft sizes fit either of the flex-grip motor chucks (Cat.Nos. 31-L14 and 31-L15)
Tubes
- Precision bore borosilicate glass
- About 5-3/4" (146mm) long, except for S38 tube which is 4" (102mm) long for centrifuge use
- Tubes for glass pestles have medium-ground surface on inside walls of grinding chamber
- Tube diameter listed is the approximate outside diameter of the grinding section
Tapered homogenizers work well on harder tissues because they combine two grinding surfaces: conical area for initial grinding and cylindrical area for final homogenization.
PTFE pestles
- Precision-machined PTFE tip
- Both conical and cylindrical grinding surfaces
- Mounted on 7" (178mm) long x 1/4" (6.35mm) diameter stainless steel shaft, except S61, which has 7" (178mm) x 3/16" (4.76mm) diameter shaft that fits the quick-change chuck.
- Shafts fit adjustable chuck on listed motor, Cat.No. 31-K54
- Pestle diameter listed is the O.D. of cylindrical portion
Glass pestles
- Ground glass tip on a 10mm diameter glass rod (diameter of S62 rod is 6mm)
- Both conical and cylindrical grinding areas with medium-ground surface
- All sizes may be used with either the L14 or L15 motor chuck
- Diameter listed is the outside diameter of the cylindrical grinding portion
Tubes
- Precision bore borosilicate glass
- All tubes have overflow chambers
- Tubes for glass pestles have medium-ground surface on inside walls of homogenizing portion
- Diameter listed is the approximate outside diameter of cylindrical homogenizing portion