Glossary

This resource is designed to help engineers, lab technicians, and distributors understand the technical terminology associated with high-precision microfluidic components, from syringe pumps to specialized plastic fittings.

A

• Accuracy: The ability of a pump (e.g., syringe or peristaltic) to deliver a volume of fluid as close as possible to the theoretical or programmed value.

• Anti-Twist Fitting: A specialized design for flangeless fittings that prevents the tubing from twisting during the tightening process, ensuring a secure, leak-free seal.

B

• Barb-to-Thread Adapter: A connector used to bridge flexible tubing (via a barbed end) to a rigid port or another component with a threaded receiving port.

• Borosilicate Glass: A type of glass with low thermal expansion, used in Runze gastight syringes for its high chemical resistance and durability in precision dispensing.

C

• CAN Bus: A robust communication protocol used in Runze industrial syringe pumps and multiport valves to allow multiple devices to communicate on a single network without a host computer.

• Cross-Contamination: The unintentional transfer of chemicals or biological samples between fluid lines. Runze minimizes this through "zero dead volume" valve designs.

D

• Dead Volume: The residual fluid that remains trapped within a fitting, valve, or pump after a cycle. Minimizing dead volume is critical for high-precision analytical instruments.

• Dispensing: The process of delivering a specific, measured volume of liquid from a fluid system.

E

• ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene): A high-strength fluoropolymer used in Runze fittings for its excellent chemical resistance and mechanical toughness.

F

• FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene): A flexible, transparent fluoropolymer tubing often used in external fluid transfer lines where chemical inertness is required.

• Flangeless Fitting: A nut-and-ferrule system that creates a seal on rigid tubing (like PTFE or PEEK) without requiring the tube end to be flared or flanged.

G

• Gastight Syringe: A high-precision syringe featuring a PTFE-tipped plunger that creates an airtight seal, preventing leakage and air infiltration during microfluidic dispensing.

L

• Luer Adapter: A standardized system of small-scale fluid fittings used for making leak-free connections between medical and laboratory instruments (available in Luer Lock and Luer Slip).

M

• Microfluidics: The science of manipulating and controlling fluids, usually in the range of microliters (µL) to milliliters (mL), using high-precision components.

• Multiport Valve: Also known as a Selector Valve, this device directs fluid from one common inlet to one of several outlets (or vice-versa).

O

• OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): Customized fluid control solutions (pumps, valves, tubing) designed by Runze to be integrated into a client's proprietary analytical or medical device.

P

• PEEK (Polyetheretherketone): A high-performance engineering plastic used for fittings and tubing in high-pressure applications (HPLC) due to its extreme chemical and heat resistance.

• Peristaltic Pump: A type of positive displacement pump used for pumping a variety of fluids. The fluid is contained within a flexible tube, preventing contact with the pump hardware.

• PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene): Commonly known as Teflon, used for wetted parts in syringe pumps and valves because it is virtually chemically inert.

R

• Repeatability (Precision): The ability of a fluidic component to deliver the same result (volume or flow rate) consistently over multiple cycles.

• RS232/RS485: Standard serial communication interfaces used to control and program Runze automated pumps and valves.

S

• Stepper Motor: A brushless DC electric motor that divides a full rotation into a number of equal steps, providing the high-resolution movement required for Runze syringe pumps.

• Syringe Pump: A motor-driven device used to precisely deliver or withdraw volumes of liquid, often used in laboratory automation and environmental analysis.

W

• Wetted Parts: Components of a fluid system that come into direct contact with the liquid being processed. Runze uses materials like PTFE, PEEK, and Sapphire to ensure compatibility with corrosive media.