Stirred-tank microbioreactor RTS-1

for cell culturelaboratoryfor microbial fermentation

Overview
RTS-1 is a personal benchtop bioreactor designed for non-invasive, real-time monitoring of microbial and cell culture growth in single-use 50 ml tubes. It combines patented Reverse‑Spin® mechanical mixing with a near-infrared (NIR) optical detection system and temperature control for repeatable, small-scale cultivation experiments.

Key features

• Reverse‑Spin® mixing in 50 ml TubeSpin tubes yields high kLa (up to 450 h-1) for efficient aerobic cultivation
• Individually controlled units accelerate optimization and parallel experiments
• Suitable for aerobic, microaerophilic and certain obligate anaerobic microorganisms (not for strict anaerobic chambers)
• Reverse‑Spin® mixing enables non-invasive biomass/OD measurement in real time
• NIR optical diode (λ = 850 nm) for continuous growth-kinetics registration
• Free software for real-time storage, visualization and basic analysis of data
• Compact, low-profile design for benchtop or personal-lab use
• Temperature control with active cooling to support rapid temperature shifts
• Task profiling and cycling for automated process sequences
• Cloud data storage and remote monitoring option for off-site supervision

Software features

• Real-time cell growth logging
• 3D graphical representation of OD or growth rate over time per unit
• Pause, Save and Load functions
• Report export in PDF and Excel formats
• Connect up to 10 units simultaneously to a single PC
• Remote monitoring option (internet connection required)
• Cycling/profile creation for automated protocols
• User calibration for many cell types
• Basic data management and visualization tools

Typical applications

• Real-time fermentation growth kinetics
• Clone candidate screening
• Protein expression monitoring
• Temperature stress and fluctuation experiments
• Media screening and optimization
• Growth characterization and curve analysis
• Inhibition and toxicity testing
• Strain quality control

Technical specifications

• Measurement range: 0–10 OD at 10–20 ml volume (0–19 OD λ600 nm equivalent); 0–8 OD at 20–30 ml volume (0–15.2 OD λ600 nm equivalent)
• Measurement precision: ±0.3 OD
• Light source: NIR light diode
• Measurement wavelength (λ): 850 nm
• Measurement periodicity: 1–60 readings per hour
• Cultural media volume: 10–30 ml
• Temperature setting range: +25°C … +70°C
• Temperature control range: 5°C above ambient … +70°C
• Temperature stability: ±0.1°C
• Display: LCD
• Speed control range: 50–2,000 rpm
• Maximum units connected to software: 10
• Tube type for aerobic cultivation: 50 ml TubeSpin with membrane filter (TubeSpin® Bioreactor 50, TPP®)
• Tube type for anaerobic cultivation: 50 ml TubeSpin with membrane filter (TubeSpin® Bioreactor 50, TPP®) — other manufacturers' compatible tubes possible with rotor modification (e.g. Corning® 50 ml Mini Bioreactor)
• Minimum PC requirements: Intel/AMD processor, 1 GB RAM, Windows 10/11, USB 2.0 port
• Recommended PC requirements: Intel/AMD processor, 3 GB RAM, Windows 10/11, USB 2.0 port
• Overall dimensions (W×D×H): 130 × 212 × 200 mm
• Weight: 1.7 kg
• Input current / power consumption: 12 V, 3.3 A / 40 W
• External power supply: Input AC 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz; Output DC 12 V