DANVILLE, Calif., July 8 — BugLab LLC, has introduced the

BugEye 200 Noninvasive Biomass Monitor, a novel biomass measurement system

with the widest linear range of any such device currently available. It

performs automated, continuous, real-time optical density (OD) measurements

of biomass for fermentation and cell culture applications. The BugEye 200

is designed for use in both research laboratory and industrial environments

and has a sensor that is easily secured to the outside of a variety of

different fermentor types, from small glass vessels to large stainless

steel vessels with glass viewing ports. Since no immersion port is

required, it avoids fouling and contamination and the need for sensor

sterilization is also eliminated. Due to its simple implementation, the

BugEye 200 has the lowest total cost of ownership of any biomass monitor

currently available.

The BugEye 200 consists of a sensor head that attaches to the

fermentor, and a base unit that interfaces with included software, allowing

tracking of fermentation progress in real time in any desired units (OD,

g/L, cells/mL, etc.) and tracking important events during the fermentation.

The system has serial RS-232, USB and two 4-20 mA analog outputs and can

function as a stand-alone device or can be controlled through software via

serial or USB protocols, enabling straightforward integration into a

fermentor control system. Due to the highly linear response of the sensor

to changes in biomass, growth rate can be rapidly determined, and is output

both as analog and digital output signals.

Most immersion probes for measuring biomass are limited in the range of

biomass growth they measure, but the BugEye 200 responds linearly to

biomass over a wide range of growth: from less than 0.1 to greater than 300

OD units. It has been tested and shown effective in measuring several

microorganisms and cultures including e. coli, yeast, and animal cell

cultures. This new monitor will provide benefit in many areas of

application including biopharmaceutical research and production, academic

and industrial microbiology, industrial brewing, and biofuels research.

BugLab LLC is a privately held company dedicated to providing novel

instrumentation to deliver high-quality, non-invasive measurements in

microbiological applications. The company leverages its unique optical

technologies in developing products that address common measurement

challenges in biopharmaceutical, fermentation and cell culture

applications.