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LEVEL SENSORS FOR MICROFLUIDICS

Fail-safe instrument for automated recirculation experiments
EASY RECIRCULATION

Continuous, unidirectional flow over samples

UP TO 3-WEEK LONG EXPERIMENTS

Less manual work to maintain your long term recirculation

PLUG-AND-PLAY

Fully autonomous and automated

FAIL-SAFE MECHANISM

No more losing your experiment due to clogging

Level sensors

level sensors 4

Automated & secured recirculation system

Most automated recirculation systems rely on the initial fluid volume and desired flow rates to estimate the time for one reservoir to flow most of its volume through the sample and then switch to the other reservoir. 

 

In cell culture, for example, as cells grow and proliferate, they release debris that can foul and clog the lines, changing the flow rates.

Even small changes can affect the time it takes for one reservoir to empty. However, the system is usually insensitive to this change. Thus, it continues to switch between reservoirs as programmed.

If one of the reservoirs empties before was expected due to biofouling or clogging, it introduces air into the system and damages the cells, ruining the experiment.

Take full advantage of controlled recirculation

To avoid this problem, our microfluidic level sensors add an extra layer of responsiveness to your system and ensure that your reservoirs are never empty. 

 

This ensures that your experiment is always full of liquid and that you don’t risk air passing through your chamber and disrupting your sample. 

level sensors perfusion system

The level sensors automate your system based on the actual media volume level inside your reservoirs, so changes in flow rate due to fouling are accounted for, and the time it takes to switch between reservoirs is adjusted.

In case something goes wrong, for example, leakage due to extensive clogging of the lines, the level sensors will stop the flow and preserve your sample.

Automation and control with Galileo user interface

The Galileo user interface is perfectly adapted for the monitoring of simple and advanced setups. Its main features are:
 
  • Detection of the Galileo flow sensor
  • Reading and plotting flow rate in real time
  • Display of clogging detection flag
  • Record flow rate and clogging detection with an acquisition rate of up to 100 Hz
Galileo-software

Level sensor applications for dynamic cell culture

A great asset of a cell perfusion system is providing a more physiologically relevant cell microenvironment by sustaining a constant unidirectional flow through a microfluidic chip laden with cells. In this light, limited volumes of liquid flow back and forth between two reservoirs, as seen above.

 

The media flow subjects cells to relevant shear stress while providing a fresh supply of nutrients at a constant level of O2 and CO2 while flushing away waste, all with a high level of control. The level sensors add an extra layer of control by introducing a fail-safe mechanism that considers the changes that can happen within such a dynamic system, such as fouling the tubing with the debris of cellular death, leakage due to clogging, and other blockage-related matters, such as the entry of air.

 

As illustrated below, the level sensors can be added to our automated cell culture platform or cell perfusion system.

Examples of setups using level sensors

1) Automated cell perfusion platform (Principle)

recirculation setup level sensors both directions

2) Cell perfusion pack with a rotary valve

rotary valve recirculation level sensors 1
rotary valve recirculation level sensors 2

3) Cell perfusion pack with active valves

32 valve recirculation level sensors 1

These examples include the following instruments:

1. Automated cell perfusion platform2. Rotary valve recirculation3. Active valves

Pressure controller (OB1, Elveflow)

Recirculation Bridge

Microfluidic flow sensor (eg. Galileo)

Pressure controller (OB1, Elveflow)

Microfluidic flow sensor (eg. Galileo)

Rotary valve (MUX, Elveflow)

Pressure controller (OB1, Elveflow)

MUX wire (Elveflow)

Microfluidic flow sensor (eg. Galileo)

3/2 valves

Some biological applications of our microfluidic level sensors include:

stem cell culture control mechanical stimulus
Nuclear and actin cytoskeleton staining of hMSCs cells mechanical stimulus on chip. Scale bar is 100μm. Reproduced from Pavesi et al, 2015.

We have built expertise in microfluidic flow control for over ten years to provide you with state-of-the-art microfluidics systems. From biology to engineering applications, the Microfluidics Innovation Center is the perfect partner for you to get started with microfluidics.

Level sensor pack specifications

The following table summarizes the main specifications of the level sensors for microfluidics. This product is subject to optimization.

Component 

Technical specifications

Dimensions (cm) Sensing area: 2 x 1 cm
Material Plastic
Reservoir compatibility 100 mL Schott bottle
Control

Software (Galileo user interface)

The level sensors are compatible with standard incubator conditions (37oC, 5% CO2, and 100% humidity). The liquid being sensed should be able to conduct current for proper functionality.

level sensors 2

Customize your pack

Our instruments can benefit from your feedback, so you can take advantage of the extra flexibility to adapt them depending on your specific needs. Our microfluidic specialists will advise you on the best instruments and accessories depending on your needs and will accompany you during the setup of the microfluidic platform.

 

– Check our other Packs for various applications –

Is the instrument compatible with other reservoirs than bottles?

The current version is compatible with 100 mL bottles, but we are working on making it compatible with small volumes. If you need a different type of reservoir, contact us using the “talk to our experts” green button above.

Besides the fluid flow equipment, such as the pressure-driven flow controller, flow sensor, and chip, you will need a computer to run the software to program the automated sample collection.

The automated sampling unit needs to be connected to a flow generator so the automation of the process is possible. Thus, it is best adapted to microfluidics and perfusion experiments. The experiments can have continuous or intermittent (stop/go) flow.

Funding and Support

The LIFESAVER project helped develop this instrument. This project is funded by the European Union’s H2020-LC-GD-2020-3, grant agreement No. 101036702 (LIFESAVER).

 

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Products & Associated Accessories

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Galielo team