Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of tubing sizes: Luer, 3/8″ barb, 1/2″ barb, 3/4″ TC (Tri-Clover), and 1.0″
TC (Tri-Clover).
The SciCon combines temperature-sensing capabilities with conductivity-
sensing capabilities in a compact, disposable, single-use package at a low
price point. Similar to the SciPres, each sensor is preprogrammed and bar-
coded with a unique ID for easy traceability and data documentation when
combined with the SciLog SciDoc software, and factory calibration data
is also stored on each sensor's chip for out-of-box, plug-and-play use. The
SciCon comes in five different sizes to fit a variety of tubing sizes: Luer, 3/8″
barb, 1/2″ barb, 3/4″ TC (Tri-Clover), and 1.0″ TC (Tri-Clover).
Conclusions
The need to monitor the characteristics of a biomass goes across many indus-
tries and, most notably in the fermentation industry such as wine-making,
a method of online and in situ monitoring of just about every function that
is needed to perform a full PAT work is available. In recent years, there have
been significant breakthroughs in the technologies available for monitoring,
including fluorescence, dye-base pH, and oxygen measurements. While most
of the sensors were initially developed for the hard-walled bioreactor indus-
try, the disposable versions of these sensors are appearing almost every day.
The basic principle is that if a sensor is placed inside the bioreactor vessel,
it should be sterile and preferably disposable; the cost of throwing away a
sensor has come down significantly, and it is now possible to readily monitor
just about every function including cell mass, both total and live, using these
disposable sensors. Alternately, many methods are available that work from
outside of the bioreactor entirely, particularly those involving fluorescence
and optical measurements.
It is anticipated that within the next 5 years as disposable biroeactors
begin to replace large hard-walled systems, much improved systems will
become available, especially those consolidating several monitoring func-
tions into one.
