Sensors and Probes

Polestar Technologies’ Sensors and Probes

---

Why Polestar Single-use Sensors?

There is a clear and growing trend toward single-use sensors, which offer many advantages, including more convenient set-up and cleaning time, reduction of validation burden, and cost savings. These sensors eliminate concern over contamination and are an affordable option to standard sensors.

---

Traditional 12mm Stainless Steel probes

Robust 316L stainless steel probes are available for use with all of Polestar’s optical sensing chemistries and designed for use with Polestar’s DSP4000 Optical Process Monitor.

The probes are available in lengths of 120mm, 220mm and 330mm, and can be equipped with either a PG13.5 compression fitting or sanitary flange for securing the probe in place. The probes have a high-quality surface finish* and can withstand autoclave, stream-in-place, and caustic cleaning operations.

Pre-calibrated O2 sensing films are deployed in replaceable screw-on, stainless steel sensing caps eliminating the need for electrolyte filling or membrane mounting making probe servicing quick and easy.

Available in a variety of O2 measurement ranges to suit your application requirements:

• 0-5%
• 0-100%
• 0-300%

*Electro-polished 8 RMS clear passivated

Flow Cell Sensors

Single-use plastic and multi-use metal flow-cell sensors are available for use with Polestar’s DSP4000

Single-use Plastic Flow Cells 

The plastic flow cells are stable to gamma-sterilization and include integral sensing ports equipped with pre-calibrated pH or DO sensing membranes. Plastic flow cells for gas-phase monitoring of DO or CO2 are also available though the current CO2 sensor is not gamma stable. The sensing port accepts a Tuohy-Borst compression-type Luer fitting for securing the flexible plastic fiber optic cable used to communicate optical signals between the flow cell and the DSP4000. 

Multi-use Metal Flow Cells 

Metal flow cells are designed to enable the user to replace the sensing membrane when necessary. Pre-calibrated replacement sensing membranes are available as drop-in assemblies with the sensing membrane adhered to a glass window which is held in place by the flow cells bulkhead optical connector. The metal flow cell is compatible with autoclave and/or chemical sterilization options.

Integrated Disposable Optical Transducers (iDOTs)

Polestar’s iDOT sensor configuration allows for simple integration of pH and DO probes to single-use bioreactors. The iDOT design incorporates a heat-weldable low-density polyethylene flange, molded fiber optic connector and welded pre-calibrated pH or DO sensing patch. All materials used in the construction of iDOT sensors are USP Class VI and 86 certified for biocompatibility with any cell lines.

Once integrated into your reactor wall the gamma and shelf-stable iDOT sensors provide a reliable means for accurately monitoring conditions under even the most demanding application conditions.

iDOTs makes monitoring easy and convenient. It also helps reduce set-up and cleaning time, reduction of validation burden, and saves money.

Learn more about our iDOT technology

Single-use Sensing Patches

All of Polestar’s pH, DO and CO2 sensing membranes are available as sensing patches configured for applications where non-contacting measurements across transparent walls are required.

The multi-layered sensing patch designs has a sensing membrane deposited on a thin polymer substrate and a release liner protected adhesive layer for adhering the patch to the area of interest.

When applied to the inside of a shake flask the sensing patches enable the user to monitor or make periodic checks on the conditions from across the flask wall, which avoids the need to break the sterile barrier. The DO and pH sensing patches can undergo either gamma-sterilization or chemical sterilization using dilute solutions of sodium meta bisulfate.