Eppendorf hails ‘smart’ bioprocessing with ‘future-proof’ bioreactor controller
The product, which is now available on the market, is suitable for small- and bench-scale applications, and is expected to support changing requirements in developers’ laboratories.
SciVario has a bay-drawer system that enables the exchange of standardized modules, offering increased flexibility, while it is also equipped with a touch interface, known as VisioNize, which allows for easy connectivity, as well as custom notifications to users’ mobile devices.
According to the company, intelligent recognition of connected devices can potentially reduce the risk of operational errors during bioprocessing.
Moreover, the control system is equipped with 14 thermal mass flow controllers (TMFCs) that provide direct measurement of mass flows.
When asked about the function and importance of TMFCs, a spokesperson for Eppendorf explained that these control adequate supply of gasses like oxygen, CO2, N2 or air.
“The 14 integrated TMFCs in the SciVario twin (seven per vessel) ensure that processes from 0.2L to 50L working volume can be carried out without the need of any hardware changes,” said the spokesperson, adding that, to date, no controller with such a turndown ratio is available on the market.
Regarding the product’s capabilities, the spokesperson explained that it is designed to control microbial, as well as cell culture applications alike, enabling its use from both beginners and experienced users in academia and industry.
Finally, the VisioNize software is expected to provide a user experience consistent with other products of the company, including PCR machines, incubators/shakers, and freezers, while SciVario can be used either as a stand-alone controller, or connected to Eppendorf’s DASware control system for data transfer.
Karl Rix, the company’s head of Bioprocess, commented that the ‘future-proof’ bioprocess controller is “empowered for future functionality extensions and an incorporation of the digital age.”
