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In-line ultrasonic sensors for real-time monitoring of the rheological properties of biological systems
Our hardware and software can be supplied in full or in part. We can customise the equipment to your requirements and are able to advise you how to best integrate the system with your current set-up.
- Propagating ultrasound waves through the flowing culture broth.
- Recording amplitude attenuation and sound velocity changes caused by the varying composition, and interactions of cells and bio-polymers.
- Taking real-time acoustic measurements which are representative of the biological system from different locations in the bioreactor and converting them to rheological parameters
Hardware components
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Sampling rig
Sampling rig with active ultrasound propagation through a colloid suspension, i.e. bio-polymer solution, cell biomass, aggregated/gelled proteins, dispersion with active ingredients (steroids, enzymes etc). The sample flows through the rig. The rig and ultrasonic transducers can withstand sterilisation temperatures and can fit into bench-top bioreactor vessel with controlled temperature (20-40oC), aeration, pH and agitation.
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Data Acquisition System
Currently available to perform measurements on a bench-top scale for industrial R&D purposes. It is able to characterise and determine .growing bio-cultures using active ultrasonic wave propagation in-situ and structured models of biological systems, i.e. biomass and media components. Measurements are taken at intervals during a dynamic (time dependent) (bio)-process.
- Recording input and output signals of amplitude
- Calculation of attenuation coefficient (a) and sound velocity (v)
- Conversion of a and v into the bulk rheological parameters of the dispersion, and of the shear (viscoelastic) moduli of the suspended particles.
- Plotting of growth profiles in terms of concentration and colloidal properties.