Fluigent introduces NIFS flowmeter to non-invasively measure micrometer flow rates

Phil Black - PII Editor 27/02/2023

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Fluigent now offers the NEW NIFS – Non-Invasive Flow Sensor for life science and diagnostic customers. Integrated with Fluigent pressure controllers, the sensor provides pressure-driven flow rate control, allowing for accurate and repeatable measurements of dynamic liquid flow rates from microliters to milliliters per minute. Fluigent provides high-quality instruments and customization services for manufacturers from life sciences to diagnostics.

Figure 1. Fluigent Non-Invasive Liquid Flow Sensor, the NIFS

Ensuring microliter flow measurement and regulation without contamination or clogging

Flow measurement and control are often a prerequisite for many liquid handling systems. Flow rate is also an important physical parameter for microfluidic applications including shear stress flow tuning (to recreate physiological cellular environments), or controlling micrometer droplet size. Effective flow control requires precise measurements that do not interfere with the process occurring. Flow rate sensing is needed for pressure-driven controllers because they need an external flowmeter to perform flow rate control. The NIFS measures the fluidic flow rate by determining the gas flow rate at the outlet of a pressure controller through a zero-leakage system. The system is non-contact with liquids which eliminates contamination or clogging issues. The NIFS is compatible with Fluigent OEM pressure controllers (F-OEM/P-OE M/P X).

Fluigent provides long-term, stable flow rate control with the Non-Invasive Flow Sensor

Fluigent’s pressure regulation algorithm is based on physical equations and self-learning routines. Benefits include:

Highly accurate, responsive, and stable flow rates (< 5% Rd accuracy, < 10 s response time)
Large flow rate range (< 100 µL/min – 10 mL/min)
Direct measurement and live regulation (Fluigent algorithm)
Adaptable to several reservoir sizes (2 mL, 15 mL, 50 mL)
Compatible with wide pressure and vacuum ranges (up to 2 bar)

Figure 3. Schematic of Fluigent liquid handling solution for micro and millifluidic applications. An inline flow sensor is not required anymore for flow rate monitoring and control.

Bruno Charléty, Industrial Systems Product Manager at Fluigent, writes:

“As the first non-invasive, accurate flow rate sensor for liquid handling applications, the NIFS flowmeter is a unique product. It joins renowned Fluigent algorithms with the integration of cutting-edge components. With the Fluigent NIFS flowmeter, we are able to provide solutions for customers working in sterile environments without compromising flow rate accuracy.”

As there is no liquid contact with the sensor, the NIFS is ideal for customers in the life sciences or diagnostics industries who are involved in a range of bioprocessing applications including cell therapy, flow cytometry, and biosensing.