Cures for the most deadly and debilitating diseases may be on the horizon. Cell culture bioreactors and fermenters manufactured by B. Braun Biotech of Allentown, Pa., have been helping the forerunners in genomic research get there faster. The company supplies customized process systems, designed for efficient production of the cells that are studied. MUX 100, provides the means to monitor and control the cell fermen-tation process. At its heart, the multiplexer uses solenoid valves supplied by General Valve of Fairfield, N.J., a division of Parker Hannifin.
Fermentation has to be closely watched.
So one of the most important factors in the operation of a fermenter is adequate gas exchange. To check on fermentation, the multiplexer directs an exhaust gas sample from the fermenter to a mass spectrometer for analysis. The MUX 100 can sequence up to 12 fermenter samples through one mass spectrometer. An array of solenoid valves manages the flow of the samples. Pa. The analyzer determines the molecular level of each specific gas in the sample and determines the fermentation environment.