Watch tutorials, webinars and informative videos about PreSens optical sensor systems.
Medical Research & Life Sciences
Our most recent business field arose from a cooperation with renowned medical technology manufacturers from the Medical Devices sector. PreSens supplies OEM parts, which are integrated into more complex medical systems or multisensory tools for high throughput analyses. Our microsensors, sensor spots, and imaging systems are already applied for high precision measurements in tissue engineering, microfluidics, and many other research fields in medical research and the life sciences.
System for online monitoring in shake flask culture
SFR vario and shake flasks with integrated sensors
The SFR vario monitors oxygen, OUR, pH, and biomass simultaneously. The device optics can read out pre-calibrated oxygen and pH sensor spots integrated in the cultivation vessel and also comprise a dedicated optical set-up for biomass monitoring. The device can be installed directly inside the shaking incubator. Data transfer to a PC is wireless, and the reader is powered with rechargeable batteries. Microbial and cell cultures can be monitored in real time without sampling.
Microsensors and micromanipulators for high resolution measurements
Microsensors Combined with the Automated or Manual Micromanipulator
High resolution oxygen or pH measurements, e. g. in tissue samples, engineered tissue or microtiter plates can easily be realized with our microsensors. The Automated or Manual Micromanipulator enable vibration-free insertion in samples and exact localization of the tiny sensor tip for most precise on-the-spot measurements. This profiling and measurement system is ideally suited for life science and medical research applications where high resolution (tip size < 50 µm) and a fast response time (t90 < 3 sec.) are necessary.
Profiling O2 Microsensor
Profiling pH Microsensor
Automated Micromanipulator
Manual Micromanipulator
O2 & pH monitoring in microtiter plates for screening purposes
SDR SensorDish® Reader & SensorDishes® or SensorPlates
The SDR SensorDish® Reader allows non-invasive online culture monitoring in 6- or 24-multiwell plates. The SensorDishes® with integrated oxygen or pH sensors are also available as 24-deep well plates for shaken cultures. The 96-well microtiterplates are ideally suited for high troughput screening and can be used with conventional microplate fluorescence readers. All PreSens multiwell plates are ready to use.
SensorDish® Reader SDR
24-Deep Well Dish with O2 Sensors
24-well Dish with pH Sensors
6-well Dish with O2 Sensors
6-well Dish with pH Sensors
96-well Flat-bottom Microtiterplate with O2 Sensors
T-flasks with integrated sensors for cell culture monitoring
Cell Culture Flasks with integrated Sensors
These plastic cell culture flasks with integrated and pre-calibrated oxygen and pH sensors are available for different growth areas. They are ready-to-use for contactless read-out with the SFR Shake Flask Reader or the SFR vario in combination with the T-Flask Adapter. Cell cultures can be monitored online without sampling.
Culture Flask with O2 & pH Spots
Shake Flask with O2 & pH Spots
SFR vario
T-Flask Adapter for Cell Culture Flasks
Flow-through cells for perfusion monitoring with customized devices
Flow-through Cells and Customized Electro-Optical Module
OEM components for optical measurement have a very small footprint and can easily be integrated in customized monitoring systems. They can be connected, for example, to irradiated single-use flow-through cells, so online monitoring in perfusion systems can be performed.
OEM components for integration in medical devices
OEM Components for Medical Devices
PreSens offers precise OEM solutions for non-invasive and micro-invasive optical measurements. The electro-optical modules have a small outer diameter, low power consumption, and are ready to be integrated into monitoring & control systems. Our integration guide guarantees a fast implementation. As a standard digital interface they use a RS232 or RS485 communication port. Different communication protocols including MOD Bus are available.
O2 microsensors for quality control in pharmaceuticals
Oxygen Microsensors & Compact O2 Meters
Oxygen inside packaging can affect the stability of pharmaceuticals. Micro-invasive sensors with steel needles are ideally suited to measure the oxygen content e. g. in blisters or pharmaceutical vials. Pierced through the packaging material, these sensors determine the oxygen content inside the headspace as well as in a liquid within seconds. It is an easy method to check and ensure the quality of pharmaceutical products and packaging.
Compact O2 Meter
Needle-type O2 Microsensor
O2 Microsensor with Fixed Sensor Tip
O2 Monitoring in Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine
One main issue in 3D engineered tissue is the development of oxygen and nutrient gradients towards the middle of an engineered tissue. With PreSens microsensors high resolution measurements inside the tissue can be performed. Our micromanipulator systems ensure exact localization of the measurement tip within a sample. With optical sensor foils integrated at the bottom of the tissue culture vessel 2D analyte maps can be recorded and gradient development can be followed over time.
Gradients and Oxygen Consumption in Microfluidics
Microfluidics are more and more applied to study cell signaling or metabolic processes in microenvironments as they require minimal resources. Optical sensors are an ideal tool to monitor culture conditions even at this small scale. For measurements at the in- and outlet flow-through cells with integrated sensors for very small volumes are available. Moreover, the VisiSens™ imaging system offers complete new opportunities as whole chip areas can be monitored over time.
Monitoring O2 Supply & pH in Transplantation Research
The time available for transplanting organs or tissue is strongly limited, as the transplants are separated from nutrient and oxygen supply. Researchers investigate new methods for sustaining tissue and organs over longer time spans and reduce the risk of apoptosis or even necrosis. Due to their versatile design PreSens optical sensors are already applied for monitoring oxygen supply and pH of perfusates in different transplantation research projects.
Optical Measurements in High Throughput Analysis
Optical sensors for online oxygen and pH measurements can be integrated in disposable culture vessels. The small sensor size does not disturb media flow or cause shear stress. With multi-channel read-out systems they are ideal tools for conducting highly parallelized measurements and online monitoring in screening application. There are systems available from mL up to several liters scale.
Tumor Research
Recent research suggests that processes in the tumor microenvironment can influence its growth and development. In vivo experiments on tumor microenvironments are challenging and precise measurement devices are needed. PreSens microsensors with a tip size thinner than a hair combined with our micromanipulators allow to conduct most accurate on-the-spot measurements inside tissue. Even 2-dimensional assessment of analyte distributions over cross-sections of tumor tissue can be realized with the VisiSens™ imaging system.
Quality Control in Pharmaceuticals
PreSens offers several sensor solutions for quality control that contribute to ensure the safety of oxygen-sensitive pharmaceuticals. Whether it is monitoring inside liquids after the filling process, experiments to ensure the air tightness of closures, or headspace measurements in blisters and vials, PreSens optical sensors offer the ideal tools for checks and shelf life determination, ensuring the product quality with fast and precise measurements.
Minimally Invasive Brain Sensor
PreSens supplies sensors and transmitters to medical device manufacturers and supports necessary qualification / certification for medical use. Our microsensors are miniaturized fluorescence sensors. The optical oxygen microsensors are based on a 140 µm silica fiber and are available with two different sensor tip diameters, a < 50 µm tapered tip and a 140 µm flat-broken tip. Other potential applications include tumor oxygen monitoring/angiogenesis; vital organ and muscle tissue monitoring; flap monitoring as well as ophthalmology.
Blood Perfusion Monitoring
The cardiac surgeon benefits from the extraordinary fast sensor response and the precise pO2 reading. The flexible nature of the sensor spots supports a free design of the perfusion cell. Sensor spots can be sterilized by autoclavation, irradiation, or ETO. The integrated sensor spots can also be delivered pre-calibrated.