Apr 1 2013
Finesse Solutions, Inc., a manufacturer of measurement and control solutions for life sciences process applications, announced the launch of its new SmartParts™ family of intelligent transmitters and actuators.
SmartParts are the building blocks for Finesse's next generation of bioreactor controller systems that are intelligent and universal. In this context intelligent and universal indicate that they have plug-and-play capability and can control any size or type of upstream vessel. This reduces complexity and increases efficiency and flexibility for the end user.
Designed for R&D scale-up, and cGMP - SmartParts have built-in diagnostics, programmable functionality (or "personalities"), and local control that is optimized for the function of each component. SmartParts include the TruSens™ (transmitter for electrochemical pH/dissolved oxygen and temperature sensors), TruFluor® pH/DO blades (transmitters for single-use optical pH/dissolved oxygen sensors), TruTorr® Tx (transmitter for single-use pressure sensors), SmartScale™ Tx(transmitter for load cells and scales), SmartPumps™ (digitally controlled pumps in three different sizes), SmartMFC™'s (digital mass flow controllers), and the SmartMotor™ (actuator for bioreactor agitators and rockers). When the components are plugged into a Finesse control system, they are automatically recognized with many of the settings configured automatically. The local control of the actuator generally implies more accurate control with far less loading of the control system. This concept is loosely built on the principle of distributed intelligence and allows for a highly scalable and automated control scheme.
According to Dr. Mark Selker , VP of R&D and co-founder of Finesse, "The SmartPart component concept arose from the observation of recent PC and Apple operating systems where common peripherals such as printers and iPods can be plugged in and used immediately. The SMART components from Finesse are designed to follow this philosophy and thereby reduce the time and burden on bioprocess professionals when attempting to add simple and obvious capability to their system. As we have stated many times in the past, bioprocess engineers should not have to be experts in software and electronics in order to accomplish their goals. We fully expect that our G3 bioreactor controllers utilizing SmartParts will not only achieve better and more repeatable product yield, but will also enhance the end user experience."