COBALT

Autonomous microfluidic pump

Standalone and autonomous pressure or vacuum controller

Easy pressure and vacuum control

Direct and precise pressure control through the dial knob

Stable flow control

Pair it with a flow sensor for long-term and controlled perfusion

Intuitive user interface

Control pressure and flow with or without a computer

Portable, compact and standalone

Perfect bench size with its own pressure source

Features & Benefits

Premium pressure and vacuum control

Choose between two Cobalt versions; both allow either gas or flow control when paired with a flow sensor.

0 to 2000 mbar positive pressure control
-700 to 1000 mbar dual vacuum & pressure control

The Cobalt technology improved microfluidic instrument performance and made ease of utilization a reality. This autonomous microfluidic pump was engineered based on the OB1 MK4 controller – our Elveflow® best-seller – using the Piezoelectric-based pressure regulation.

Unique performances compared to syringe or peristaltic pumps

The Elveflow® Cobalt autonomous microfluidic pump offers superior fluidic performances compared to microfluidic syringe or peristaltic pumps. It generates smooth flow with the highest accuracy since it does not use a mechanical piece to produce pressure.

When paired with the MFS flow sensor from our product line, Cobalt generates powerful flow control with:

high stability on a 0 to 5ml/min range: repeatability from 3.5 nl/min (MFS2) up to 1 µl/min (MFS5) in water
high accuracy: from 20 nl/min (MFS2) up to 10 µl/min (MFS5) in water

For more details, please refer to the MFS series specifications.

microfluidic precision pump precision graph

Autonomous & standalone instrument

No need for gas/vacuum supply

Cobalt is the ideal benchtop companion. It is equipped with a pressure (and vacuum) source so it does not require an external compressor or laboratory gas supply. Its design minimizes vibrations and sound volume.

Cobalt reservoirs MFS in the lab scientist large scaled

Embedded user interface

Cobalt’s intuitive firmware can be fully controlled without the need of external software. Its user-friendly interface contains a knob button for easy setting modifications.

Cobalt embeded screen autonomous pump scaled

Cobalt is the perfect companion to go beyond basic fluid control for a wide range of applications:

Lab-on-chip development
Bench test or characterisation (chips, sensors, filters, etc)
Mechanobiology (cell confinement, tissue engineering, etc)
Cell perfusion

For all the publications using our products, click here.

For all the application notes and reviews based on our product, click here.

Hardware features of the two Cobalt versions available

	Cobalt	Cobalt-DUAL
Pneumatics
Type of pressure	Positive	Positive & negative
Pressure range	0 to 2000 mbar (0 to 29 psi)	-700 to 1000 mbar (-10 to 14 psi)
Minimum pressure increment	Embedded instrument software (1mbar) Cobalt computer software (0.1mbar)
Pressure stability	0.1 mbar
Response time	Embedded instrument software: down to 10 ms Cobalt computer software: down to 100 ms
Settling time	Down to 75 ms	Down to 105 ms
Supply pressure	No pressure source needed (integrated)	No pressure & vacuum source needed (integrated)
Flow control
Flow sensor compatibility	Possibility to pair 1 flow sensor from the Elveflow MFS series (MFS2, 3, 4, 5).
Flow rates (indicative, please refer to the MFS series)	MFS2: 0 to 7 µl/min \| MFS3: 0 to 80 µl/min \| MFS4: 0 to 1000 µl/min \| MFS5: 0 to 5000µl/min
Flow sensor calibration	User-friendly automated sensor calibration module
Liquid compatibility	Non contact Any aqueous or organic solvent, oil, or biological sample solution.
Control & monitoring
User interfaces	Embedded software on Cobalt Cobalt computer software (Windows) on PC
Cobalt Software added functionalities	Custom profile: design, upload, download Recording data: download
Maximum recording time	Embedded instrument software: up to 6000 sec depending on recording frequency Cobalt computer software: unlimited
Other
Output connector	Quick Connect
Power consumption	36 W (100 V to 240 V – 50 Hz to 60 Hz)
Case dimensions	328 x 235 x 168 mm (l x w x h)
Weight	3.3 kg	4.1 kg

If you have any question or require help to choose the best setup for your microfluidic experimentation, contact our experts!

Interface & Software features

	Embedded INSTRUMENT software	Cobalt COMPUTER Software
Type of pressure	✅	✅
Pressure control	✅	✅
Flow control	✅	✅
Internal calibration	✅	✅
Auto sensor detection	✅	✅
Record data: start-stop	✅	✅
Record data: configure	✅	✅
Record data: download	–	✅
Custom waveform: design	–	✅
Custom waveform: upload	–	✅
Custom waveform: run	✅	✅
Error messages	✅	✅
Stop mode	✅	✅
Freeze mode	✅	✅

Software

DOWNLOAD Cobalt SOFTWARE

LATEST RELEASE: CS V1.01.05 (DEC. 2023)

Download

Which sensor is compatible with the Cobalt?

Testimonials

“This autonomous unit allows me to apply a known pressure profile and directly controls the pressure, thus compensating for any air build up or leakage. The good fit for my need and the ease of use convinced me to get the Elveflow autonomous pump system.”
Dr. Ravi Sinha, University of Twente, Netherlands
Autonomous microfluidic pump user
“The Elveflow suite of instruments provides unique solutions to the problems many researchers face when working with microfluidics. Elveflow instruments offer superb flow and pressure control over a wide range or pressures. ”
Dr. Robert Ward, Massey University, United States
Elveflow Product Line user
“For my work, the ability to apply varying known pressures is very important. The autonomous pump does it very well and it is easy to use. The ability to apply pressure and vacuum from the same port is really useful and allows me to apply various pressure profiles. The device does very well what it claims to do and fits my need quite perfectly. So I am very satisfied with it.”
Dr. Ravi Sinha, University of Twente, Netherlands
Autonomous microfluidic pump user