DASGIP Integrates Aber Futura Biomass Sensors

DASGIP expand the 3rd party integration program and includes Aber Futura biomass sensors. This integration enables online monitoring of the viable cell concentration during the controlled cultivation in DASGIP Parallel Bioreactor systems. With Aber biomass sensors DASGIP integrates a further analytical tool for the advanced and efficient cultivation of bacteria, yeast and animal cells.

For over 20 years, Aber Instruments Ltd, UK, has developed sophisticated on-line monitoring equipment for measuring viable cell concentration. Its latest development, the Futura Biomass Monitor is a compact on-line instrument that includes a slim, lightweight pre-amplifier, ideal for small bioreactors.

During the measurement, viable cells act as tiny capacitors under the influence of an electric field. The non-conducting nature of the plasma membrane allows a build up of charge. The resulting capacitance can be measured; it is dependent upon the cell type and is directly proportional to the membrane bound volume of these viable cells. Physiological changes of cultures cells can be monitored as the software analyses the biomass spectra over a wide range of frequencies.

Lately, DASGIP, the leading supplier of Parallel Bioreactor Systems, has integrated the Aber Futura biomass sensors successfully in their DASGIP Control System. Now, each DASGIP Parallel Bioreactor can be equipped with an Aber biomass sensor. The Aber Futura sensor is connected with DASGIP Control via a serial port using the Modbus Protocol. The data is monitored, visualized and stored along with all other process information by means of DASGIP Control.

“A key advantage of the interface strategy used by DASGIP during the integration of the Aber Futura into their control software, is the use of the ‘Connect’ hub which requires fewer wires for multi-channel systems and eliminates the need for separate transmitters,” explained Dr John Carvell, Sales and Marketing Director of Aber Instruments. “With this seamless integration, DASGIP users are provided with reliable information about the viable cell concentration. The integration with the Aber Futura biomass sensors offers a great potential for optimizing their cultivation and production processes,” he concluded.

DASGIP users benefit from a precise monitoring, smooth logging, as well as from documentation and an easy data export to MS-Excel. Furthermore, the biomass signal can be used for online feedback-control-loops, i.e. to implement user defined feed strategies online in the DASGIP Control System.

Martin Grolms
Marketing & Communications | DASGIP AG
Tel: +49 (0)2461 980-121 | mailto: m.grolms@dasgip.de