vs. 
What's the difference? Which is right for you?
With a Tissue Grinder Potter-Elvehjem, the PTFE pestle is attached to a stainless steel shaft and homogenization occurs as the sample and buffer are forced through the cylindrical portion of the mortar as the pestle rotates downward. Generally, this is a hand-held process since all movement is done by hand. PRO Scientific Homogenizers are rotor-stator homogenizers. Cell disruption with the rotor-stator homogenizer involves hydraulic and mechanical shear as well as cavitation.
Using a Potter-Elvehjem homogenizer with a PTFE pestle is a viable option for disrupting cells. However, it is not very efficient at the homogenizing of solid tissue.
When the correct tissue homogenizing equipment is selected, most homogenization will take 10-30 seconds. This means, little to no heat will be emitted. When there is a concern about samples being kept at sub-ambient temperatures, samples can easily be homogenized in an ice-bath or cooling bead bath.
Can I use a PRO Homogenizer for soft tissues too?
Absolutely! You need not be limited to using only a Tissue Grinder Potter-Elvehjem with your soft tissue samples, such as liver or brain. A PRO Scientific rotor-stator homogenizer can be an effective means of homogenizing soft tissues. When using a rotor-stator homogenizer, like PRO Scientific’s homogenizer, it is important to select a generator probe that provides a low sheer number. With that generator probe selected, most homogenization will take place in a matter of seconds, so heat production is not a concern. We have a variety of homogenizer package kits that are ideal
Examples of PRO Scientific Homogenizers being used to homogenize soft tissue samples:
Fatty liver – PRO200 Homogenizer
Rat liver – PRO200 Homogenizer
Liver – PRO200 Homogenizer
Equine liver – PRO200 Homogenizer
Mouse liver – PRO200 Homogenizer
Kidney - PRO200 Homogenizer
Renal tumor - PRO200 Homogenizer
Hippocampi - PRO200 Homogenizer
Thalamus - PRO200 Homogenizer
Related Links
- Learn more about the technology behind rotor-stator homogenizers
- Homogenizer Selection Guide
- Learn more about the PRO Generator Probes
- Evolving Products in the Homogenizing Field
- Learn the best questions to ask when choosing a tissue homogenizer
- Need help selecting a homogenizer? Visit our choosing a lab homogenizer page.
- Request a quote