Hamilton Incyte Arc Expert

The Hamilton Incyte Arc is a permittivity-based sensor engineered for the in-situ measurement of viable cell density in mammalian, yeast, and high-density bacterial cultures. By utilizing dielectric spectroscopy, it distinguishes between viable cells and dead cells or debris, providing a continuous, real-time profile of culture biomass without the latency or contamination risks associated with offline sampling. This data enables immediate detection of process deviations and precise identification of key metabolic events, allowing operators to optimise feeding strategies and harvest timing based on physiological status rather than a predetermined schedule.

The sensor features integrated Arc technology, which miniaturises the transmitter electronics directly into the sensor head, eliminating the need for bulky external transmitters and enabling direct communication with process control systems via 4–20 mA or Modbus interfaces. It offers a broad measuring range correlating to approximately $5 \times 10^5$ to $8 \times 10^9$ cells/mL for mammalian lines and maintains accuracy unaffected by changes in media or microcarriers. The dual-frequency measurement capability allows for the simultaneous scanning of changes in cell diameter and morphology, providing deeper insights into cell health during scale-up.

Constructed with a hygienic, steam-sterilisable, and autoclavable design, the Incyte Arc fits standard PG13.5 process connections and withstands temperatures up to 140 °C. It is suitable for research, pilot, and production-scale bioprocessing in stirred-tank bioreactors, offering a scalable solution for consistent process analytical technology (PAT) implementation.