The acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, enhances Thermo's product line by adding in-line sample preparation technologies to their coupled liquid chromatography (LC), mass spectrometry (MS) systems. The technology allows the direct injection of biological samples and can efficiently and accurately process plasma, urine and cell homogenates - dramatically expediting analysis.
Thermo sell advanced laboratory equipment and this end-to-end solution for the separation of drug and other organic molecules from complex samples could benefit many analysts is the pharmaceutical, clinical, environmental and food science industries.
Cohesive's TurboFlow chromatography systems dramatically reduce sample preparation timess by eliminating the need for solid phase extraction, liquid/liquid extraction and protein precipitation that vastly increasing sample throughput.
The unique system involves injecting a sample directly onto a narrow column packed with large particles which cause oscillating eddies to form between the particles.
The subsequent turbulence in the column increases the separation between small and large molecules compared to normal chromatography; small molecules stick to the silica surfaces while larger molecules, such as proteins, are quickly washed through.
The small particles are then eluted from the column and further separation can then be achieved using standard HPLC techniques, if required, before analysis using coupled MS systems.
Cohesive, who had revenues of $15m (€11.4m) in 2006, also have a unique multiplexing technology that allows up to four separate LC systems to be coupled in parallel to one MS system, ensuring maximum usage of the MS, which are typically used less than 30 per cent of the time.
"Cohesive's sample preparation technologies will strengthen our ability to offer customers the advanced tools they need to accelerate research and discovery and to provide them with higher-quality analytical information," said Marijn Dekkers president and CEO of Thermo.
"We look forward to integrating Cohesive into Thermo Fisher Scientific, and to making their sample preparation capabilities available to customers worldwide through our global sales channels."