Direct insertion of sensor/tubing (shown on incubator)

Control via Adapter Plate (shown on BioSpherix A-Chamber)

Subchamber via Adapter Plate (shown on BioSpherix C-Chamber)

Installation

1. Set ProCO2 120 on or near host chamber and plug it in.

2. Hook up sensor and gas infusion tube and insert both into chamber.

3. Hook up gas supply.

How It Works

From outside the host chamber, the ProCO2 120 works by remotely sensing the oxygen concentration inside the chamber and infusing either nitrogen to lower it or carbon dioxide to raise it.

Installation is easy. Simply insert sensor and nozzle of infusion tube into chamber through any convenient passageway. Doors, windows, sample ports, access ports, holes (built-in or custom-drilled) all work.

FRONT PANEL INTERFACE

All operators are conveniently located on the front panel. All connections are on the back panel, out of the way. Carbon dioxide concentration at sensor continuously displays in bright green digits that can easily be read from across the room. Manual switch for gas provides convenient shut off. It saves gas when the chamber door is open. Just don’t forget to turn it back on! The alarm buzzer also has a manual switch.

Gas

USE ANY GAS SUPPLY

The ProCO2 120 conveniently utilizes gas from any source. Best supply depends on consumption. Compressed gas is best in low consumption applications. Generator is best in high consumption applications. Liquid is best in between.

SAVES GAS AND MONEY

Chamber gas consumption varies widely, but in every case the ProCO2 120 always and absolutely minimizes gas consumption. It’s maximally efficient! Gas costs are reduced to absolute minimum.

1. No control yet. Chamber CO2 is ambient air CO2 (0%).

2. Control starts. Control gas is CO2 and the ProCO2 120 immediately infuses it to raise chamber levels of CO2 up.

3. CO2 is taken to setpoint. How fast depends on infusion rate. Infusion rate is adjustable. The higher the infusion rate, the faster to setpoint. Gas consumption in this phase is mostly a function of chamber size. The larger the chamber, the more gas it takes.

4. Steady-state control at setpoint is established. Infusion of control gas exactly matches chamber leakage to hold CO2 level constant. Gas consumption here is mostly a function of chamber leakage. The leakier the chamber, the more gas it takes.

5. Door of chamber is suddenly opened and closed. Steady-state is disrupted. In-rush of air is immediately detected and chamber CO2 is promptly returned to setpoint. Gas consumption depends on how wide and how long the door was opened. The more it’s disrupted, the more gas it takes to get back to set point.

6. Door suddenly unlatches. Leakage goes up, but the ProCO2 120 compensates and immediately re-establishes steady set point. Gas consumption goes up dramatically, but CO2 is kept at set point. Consumption increases in proportion to leakage.

7. Door gets shut tight. Leakage goes back down to normal. The ProCO2 120 compensates by drifting back to setpoint and re-establishes steady-state at setpoint. Gas consumption goes back down to normal levels, while CO2 stays put.

NORMOBARIC FEEDBACK CONTROL

ProCO2 120 works in semi-sealable chambers. It controls chamber carbon dioxide by infusing it, displacing some of the current gaseous contents. Pressure inside the chamber stays the same as pressure outside.

Reaching a setpoint is a logarithmic process. The further away from ambient the setpoint is, the slower it goes. But closed-loop control is efficient. By constantly monitoring chamber carbon dioxide, it promptly gets to setpoint. It responds immediately to correct any disturbance. It automatically adjusts to different loads. And in the process, it uses the least amount of gas possible!

Power is a function of infusion rate of control gas. The higher the infusion rate, the faster to setpoint. Above: infusion rate #4>#3>#2>#1. Infusion rate is a function of control gas supply pressure. The higher the pressure, the higher the infusion rate. Maximum 25 PSIG provides 35 SCFH.

Hypercapnia is a relative term that means excess concentration of CO2. The ProCO2 120 can create hypercapnia by infusing the CO2 into the chamber until it reaches the setpoint and holding it there.

Hypocapnia is a relative term that means a lesser amount of CO2 concentration (relevant to cell culture). In cell culture, 5% CO2 is pretty standard practice. The ProCO2 can create hypocapnia by infusing the CO2 to a specific setpoint.