Shakeflask

ShakeFlask is a class of laboratory equipment designed to facilitate mixing and aeration of liquids in shake flasks, a common format for small-scale culturing in microbiology and biotechnology. The term is used by various manufacturers to denote devices that provide controlled shaking of flask cultures while maintaining environmental parameters such as temperature and, in some models, gas exchange.

Design and features: Most ShakeFlask systems combine an orbital shaker mechanism with a platform or clamp array that securely supports Erlenmeyer or similar flasks. They typically offer adjustable shaking speed, a defined orbit, and stable contact to minimize drift. Temperature control may be provided by an integrated incubator or a temperature-controlled block. Some models include humidity control, integrated sensors for parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, or optical density, and connectivity to software for programming shaking profiles and logging run data.

Applications: ShakeFlask equipment is used for small-volume fermentation, protein expression screening, growth kinetics studies, and process development. It enables rapid testing of culture conditions while preserving flask-based methods, often operating at volumes ranging from a few tens to a few hundreds of milliliters per flask. The approach is common in biotech startups, academic laboratories, and contract research settings.

Variants and history: Variants range from simple benchtop units to incubator-integrated systems and portable configurations. The ShakeFlask concept has evolved alongside automated culture platforms, modular accessories, and data integration, reflecting a broader shift toward integrating traditional shake-flask workflows with modern monitoring and control capabilities.

See also: orbital shakers, incubators, shake flasks, bioprocess equipment.