Flow cell device and bioreactor product monitoring system and method
AssigneeNirrin Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBryan A. Hassell, Aaron Delahanty
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Abstract
A flowcell device, including a flow pathway and an optical subassembly, has a flowcell body that is continuous with a sample being analyzed and a temperature controlled surface. The flowcell body can be disposed between a thermalplate, actively regulated by a thermoelectric cooler, and an insulating member. The flowcell device can be employed in a bioreactor monitoring system.
Claims20
A method of optical interrogation, the method comprising:
- regulating a temperature of a flowcell device;
- flowing a sample to the flowcell device;
- obtaining sequential scans that converge to a stable scan as a temperature of the sample in the flowcell device equilibrates with the flowcell temperature;
- and
- saving the stable scan,
- wherein,
- the flowcell device comprises:
- a flowcell body defining a flow pathway that includes a central cell, wherein the flow cell body is thermally continuous with a temperature-controlled surface;
- and
- an optical subassembly, comprising the central cell and adjacent first and second optical windows.
A method for non-destructive, real-time monitoring of a bioreactor process, comprising:
- continuously extracting fluid samples from a bioreactor and directing them to a flowcell;
- actively regulating the flowcell temperature to maintain the fluid sample at a desired setpoint;
- interrogating the fluid sample with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to obtain sequential spectral measurements;
- comparing the spectral measurements to detect changes;
- and
- recording a final spectrum when a deviation of sequential measurements falls below a predefined threshold.
A method for optimizing spectral accuracy during optical analysis of fluid samples, comprising:
- introducing a fluid sample into a flowcell featuring a thermally conductive body and optical windows;
- equilibrating the temperature of the fluid sample to a predetermined setpoint using active thermal regulation;
- transmitting light through the fluid sample in the flowcell's central cell using a tunable laser;
- measuring the transmitted light using a photosensor;
- repeating measurements over time and discarding spectra where temperature fluctuations are above a predefined threshold;
- outputting a stabilized spectrum for processing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.