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A glass-blower by trade, Walter Buchi made a name for himself when he released his rotary evaporator in
the late nineteen-fifties. Scientists C.C. Draig and M.E. Volk were pioneers in developing the modern-day
concept, but Buchi developed the first manufactured rotary evaporator, patented in 1957. A rotary
evaporator (often called a “rotovap” by scientists) is a device by which solvents can be removed from
reaction mixtures via evaporation. Put very simply, a liquid mixture is heated, and the solvent evaporates
and gets collected.
A vacuum is a key component of this device and is used to aid in the evaporation of the solvent. A vacuum will lower the air pressure in the space above a liquid, thereby lowering the boiling point of the liquid being heated. Often the mixture is very sensitive and highly reactive so excessive heating would not be ideal. The vacuum allows the user to temporarily alter the physical properties of the sample so that solvents can be extracted from a variety of mixtures that would otherwise be impossible. The simplest type of vacuum used on a rotary evaporator is a water aspirator. Picture a tube that is wider at the top and narrows as it goes down, with an opening at the side. When water is channeled downwards, it increases speed, and the pressure is lowered, thus creating a vacuum effect through the opening at the side. A more complex method would involve a regulated mechanical vacuum pump.
Rotation is not absolutely necessary for the evaporation process to take place. However, the centrifugal
forces allow the solvent to rise and be spread thinly over a larger surface, which makes it easier to extract. Also, the rotation helps reduce “bumping.” Bumping is what happens when two substances come together, like water and ethanol, and the total amount is reduced. (This is due to the difference in the size of the molecules. For example, if you took one cup of grapes and combined it with one cup of apples, the resulting volume would be less than two cups because the grapes would fill in the space left by the apples.)
The rotary evaporator has evolved over the years to become increasingly more advanced, and while
features and capabilities of different models vary widely, modern rotary evaporators still consist of seven
primary components:
1. The motor that rotates the sample (contained in either a flask or vial)
2. Hot water bath to heat the sample
3. The vacuum used to lower the pressure
4. A vapor duct to capture the solvent
5. Condenser that cools the solvent
6. Flask to collect the solvent after it condenses
7. A mechanism to quickly remove the sample from the hot water bath
The name Buchi now represents a corporation run in part by descendants of Walter Buchi. Buchi develops, produces, and distributes laboratory equipment and analytical instruments for R&D laboratories, as well as for quality control. They support chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries worldwide. Today, the Buchi Rotavapor continues to be the most widely used rotary evaporator used by research laboratories around the world.
Capitol Scientific is Buchi's fastest-growing independent dealer. They focus on the Rotary Evaporator,
refrigerated centrifuge, and reagent chemicals.
Progress in technology can be seen in almost every area of our lives. One obvious area where significant advances have been made is in the field of medicine. What is unique about this field is that compared to how rapidly technology is evolving in some areas, the paper-based management system used in most care centers seems archaic.
In the medical field, there is an enormous collection of data that is required, and the information captured on even just a single paper chart is invaluable. This presents a number of challenges:
If the technology exists to keep a human heart beating, surely a solution to these issues does as well?
Indeed it does and is known as an electronic medical record (EMR). This is nothing but a medical record present in digital format. In the world of health informatics, an EMR is considered one type of the several electronic health records (EHR) that are available, but often, EMR and EHR are considered synonymous. A digital record can be easily interpreted, updated, duplicated, transported, and cannot easily be destroyed. EMRs can save time and money, and increase the overall quality of care.
If a patient's chart in a digital format solves the challenges of the traditional paper version, why haven't more healthcare centers adopted EMRs? Many fear the upfront costs and potential loss of productivity during a transition. But, the reason may be that an electronic medical record by itself is not enough. Recording test results or an x-ray electronically is a significant evolution in technology, but the EMR needs to be fully integrated with the rest of the processes carried out by any given healthcare provider, such as coding or billing.
Rather than just an EMR, what is needed is EHR system, where an EMR is an integral part of practice management software or medical management software. Austin-based e-MDs, a leading developer of healthcare software solutions, is paving the way with their Solution SeriesTM, considered the standard for affordable and integrated EHR and practice management software solutions. More than just digitizing a paper chart, the software includes document management, clinical, and financial modules to automate medical practice processes and the management of EMRs. Solution SeriesTM is a comprehensive EHR system that incorporates, and vastly improves upon, all systems and processes that are currently paper-based.
With the obvious advantages an upgrade in technology offers, the public is eagerly awaiting (and our
government encouraging) the transition to the universal adoption of EMRs. With e-MDs Solution SeriesTM,
the technology now exists to support all processes involved with providing care with a true EHR system. By eliminating hurdles and providing the comprehensive support needed to make such a radical change, e-MDs hopes to bring medical practices from the stone age into the digital age.
e-MDs is the developer of Solution SeriesTM—the standard for an affordable and integrated EMR system
and practice management software.