Dissolved Oxygen Probe (DO Probe)

WhatsApp Order
A DO Probe (Dissolved Oxygen Probe) is an analytical sensor used to measure the concentration of oxygen dissolved in a liquid sample, designed for clinical diagnostic, bioprocessing, and water quality applications . Dissolved Oxygen levels serve as a significative indicator to evaluate pathological conditions such as tissue hypoxia or hyperoxia, and are used to monitor the effects of therapeutic treatments in critical care settings . The probe outputs a signal (millivolt or digital) corresponding to the oxygen partial pressure (pO₂) after compensating for temperature and salinity .
Dissolved Oxygen probes are available in polarographic (electrochemical) or optical (RDO – Rugged Dissolved Oxygen) technologies. Polarographic probes (requiring a 30-60 minute warm-up, electrolyte solution, and periodic maintenance) are suitable for sensitive laboratory measurements, while optical probes (no warm-up, no electrolyte, low maintenance) are preferred for field-ready and point-of-care use . Polarographic probes consume oxygen during measurement and therefore require sample stirring, whereas optical probes do not consume oxygen and require no stirring.
For the clinical researcher and critical care physician, dissolved oxygen probes used in conjunction with tissue monitors enable the long-term measurement of tissue oxygenation and perfusion in organs such as the kidneys and brain, providing valuable insights into the causes of acute kidney injury and cognitive impairment following sepsis or cardiopulmonary bypass. For the bioprocessing engineer, autoclavable dissolved oxygen sensors are essential for monitoring and controlling oxygen levels in sterile bioreactors, ensuring optimal conditions for cell culture and recombinant protein production. For the laboratory quality manager, a dissolved oxygen probe is a fundamental tool for Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) testing, measuring the oxygen consumed by microorganisms to assess water quality and validate the efficacy of hospital water treatment systems.
Description

Dissolved Oxygen Probe (DO Probe)

PRIMARY CLINICAL & DIAGNOSTIC USES

1. Measurement of Dissolved Oxygen in Biological Fluids
  • Primary Use: Provides an electrochemical or optical sensor (dissolved oxygen probe) designed to measure the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in biological fluids such as blood, plasma, urine, and perfusion solutions for clinical diagnostic applications .
  • How it helps: For the clinical laboratory scientist and critical care researcher, dissolved oxygen levels in biological fluids are a significative indicator to evaluate pathological conditions (such as hypoxia or hyperoxia) and may explain pathophysiological mechanisms and monitor the effects of therapeutic treatments . For the patient, dissolved oxygen measurement helps clinicians identify conditions like ischemia, tissue hypoxia, and monitor the efficacy of oxygen-based therapies in critical care settings, including management of acute kidney injury and assessment following cardiopulmonary bypass .
2. Monitoring of Tissue Oxygenation and Perfusion
  • Primary Use: Used in conjunction with tissue monitors to provide real-time, simultaneous measurements of physiological tissue oxygen, temperature, and blood perfusion from combined optical micro-sensors, enabling long-term monitoring of tissue oxygenation .
  • How it helps: For the critical care physician and clinical researcher, dissolved oxygen probes that have been developed for chronic implantation can monitor renal cortical and medullary tissue oxygenation over days or weeks. This technology gives important insights into the causes of acute renal failure and cognitive impairment induced by sepsis and cardiopulmonary bypass that may lead to improved treatments . For the patient, this type of monitoring offers the potential for earlier detection of organ dysfunction, guiding timely interventions and improving outcomes for conditions like septic acute kidney injury .
3. Quality Control in Bioprocessing and Cell Culture
  • Primary Use: Provides robust dissolved oxygen sensors specifically engineered for biotechnology and molecular diagnostics applications requiring steam sterilization and hygienic operation, essential for bioprocess monitoring and biopharmaceutical production pipelines .
  • How it helps: For the bioprocess engineer and molecular diagnostics specialist, dissolved oxygen probes with autoclavable construction (e.g., featuring 316L stainless steel outer casing and expandable inner silicone bladder) support real-time monitoring of oxygenation in bioreactors and fermentation systems. Precision DO control is critical to optimizing cell growth and recombinant protein expression in sterile biomanufacturing environments . For the patient, tight control of dissolved oxygen in the production of biopharmaceuticals (such as monoclonal antibodies and vaccines) helps ensure product quality, consistency, and safety .
4. Measurement of Oxygen for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
  • Primary Use: Utilizes polarographic or optical dissolved oxygen probes to determine the oxygen content of water and other liquids and solutions, including for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) testing in quality control and environmental monitoring .
  • How it helps: For the hospital environmental services technician and laboratory quality manager, the same fundamental dissolved oxygen measurement technology used in BOD applications supports crucial quality functions such as monitoring purified water systems, dialysis water, and wastewater treatment processes to verify disinfection effectiveness and water quality standards. For the patient, ongoing monitoring of hospital water systems helps prevent healthcare-associated infections related to waterborne pathogens, safeguarding patient safety in dialysis units and other critical care areas .

SECONDARY & SUPPORTIVE USES


1. In Vivo and Ex Vivo Organ Perfusion Monitoring: Used to provide a reliable measurement of medium oxygenation to ensure a high-quality process in ex vivo organ perfusion and tissue engineering applications, as well as in clinical research .

2. Cell Fermentation and Tissue Engineering: Provides rapid and precise oxygen measurements vital for real-time monitoring in applications such as cell fermentation, tissue engineering, and environmental biotechnology .

3. Bioprocess Monitoring and Biopharmaceutical Production: Supports high-precision oxygen measurements essential for optimizing oxygenation in bioreactors and fermentation systems, playing a critical role in biopharmaceutical production pipelines, clinical diagnostics, and synthetic biology research .

4. Wastewater and Environmental Monitoring: Measures the amount of oxygen dissolved in water samples to assess pollution levels and the health of aquatic ecosystems, with application in hospital environmental management and compliance .

5. Validation of Sterilization Processes: DO probes with autoclavable construction are used to validate and monitor sterilization cycles, ensuring the integrity of steam sterilization processes in central sterile processing departments .

6. Laboratory and Field Water Quality Testing: Fundamental tool for measuring dissolved oxygen in natural water bodies, supporting environmental monitoring and compliance with water quality regulations .

7. Standard Curve and Media Preparation: Used to verify dissolved oxygen levels in prepared culture media and buffers to ensure consistent experimental conditions in molecular biology and microbiology workflows 

8. Pharmaceutical Formulation Development: Assists in developing and testing oxygen-sensitive pharmaceutical formulations, such as lipid emulsions and certain IV solutions, to maintain stability and efficacy .

9. Development of Large Animal Models of Disease: Used in preclinical research to monitor tissue perfusion and oxygenation in large animal models, providing important insights into the pathophysiology of diseases like sepsis .

10. Diagnosis and Monitoring of Acute Kidney Injury: Used in research to investigate intra-renal and urinary oxygenation during resuscitation in septic acute kidney injury, with potential for translation to clinical diagnostics .

11. Monitoring of Membrane Integrity: Optical DO probes are used to monitor membrane integrity in certain analytical instruments and processes, as they require an intact membrane to function properly .

12. Measurement of Dissolved Carbon Dioxide: Inversely, analytical instruments that measure dissolved CO2 operate on similar principles to dissolved oxygen probes, often employing a submerged probe covered by a thin organic membrane.
KEY PRODUCT FEATURES

1. BASIC IDENTIFICATION ATTRIBUTES

  • Device Type: An analytical sensor (electrochemical or optical) used to measure the amount of oxygen dissolved in a liquid sample, designed for clinical diagnostics, bioprocessing, and water quality applications .
  • Designation: dissolved oxygen Probe, Dissolved Oxygen Probe, Dissolved Oxygen Sensor, RDO Probe, Polarographic dissolved oxygen Probe, Optical dissolved oxygen Sensor .
  • Key Components:
    • Sensor Element: Galvanic, polarographic, or optical sensing technology .
    • Body Material: 316L stainless steel (autoclavable), epoxy, or PPS for use in industrial and clinical environments .
    • Membrane: Oxygen-permeable membrane covering the sensing element .
    • Electrolyte Solution: Required for polarographic probes to facilitate the electrochemical reaction .
    • Connector: BNC, MiniDIN, or 9-pin connector for meter interface .
    • Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC): Integrated temperature sensor for correction .
    • Cable: Lengths from 1.5 meters to 20 meters for operational flexibility.

2. TECHNICAL & PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES

  • DO Working Range: 0-20 mg/L (0-200% saturation) for polarographic; 0-50 mg/L for some optical sensors .
  • Temperature Range: 0°C to 50°C (standard), up to 60°C for some models .
  • Accuracy: ±0.1 mg/L (0-8 mg/L), ±0.2 mg/L (8-20 mg/L) for high-performance laboratory probes .
  • Response Time (T90/T95): 10-15 seconds for high-performance polarographic probes; up to 30-60 seconds for optical and standard probes .
  • Oxygen Consumption (Polarographic): 0.008 mg/h per (mg/L) at 20°C for low-maintenance probes .
  • Connector Types: BNC (to convert a pH meter), MiniDIN, or 9-pin MiniDIN (for dedicated DO meters) .
  • Cable Length: Ranges from 1.5 m to 20 m for field or hard-to-reach applications .
  • Sterilization Compatibility: Autoclavable and steam sterilizable models available for bioprocessing .
  • Maintenance Requirements: Polarographic probes require electrolyte replacement approximately every 2 months; optical probes have a maintenance-free sensor cap that must be replaced every 1-2 years .
  • Stirring Requirement: Polarographic probes consume oxygen and require sample flow/stirring; optical probes do not consume oxygen and require no stirring .

3. PHYSICAL & OPERATIONAL PROPERTIES

  • Construction: Rugged, durable housing designed for rigorous use in industrial or clinical settings; models feature hygienically polished surfaces to prevent microbial adhesion .
  • Sensor Technology: Polarographic (requires warm-up, stirring, higher maintenance) or Optical/RDO (no warm-up, no stirring, low maintenance) .
  • Warm-Up Time: Polarographic probes require 30-60 minutes warm-up if just connected to the meter; optical probes have no warm-up time .
  • Storage: Polarographic probes must be stored in a moist calibration sleeve; optical probes should also be stored in a moist sleeve to protect the sensor cap .
  • Modularity: Some models feature quick-change membrane bodies, allowing replacement in under two minutes, reducing downtime .

4. SAFETY & COMPLIANCE ATTRIBUTES

  • Regulatory Status: Laboratory equipment for in vitro diagnostic use; classified as analytical instruments for gas analysis.
  • Compliance: Materials used are FDA-positive listed and comply with FDA and USP Class VI requirements for bioprocessing .
  • Biocompatibility: Sensors with stainless steel bodies and FDA-compliant O-rings are suitable for use in sterile biomanufacturing environments where materials must not elicit adverse reactions .
  • Electrical Safety: Designed for low-voltage operation with pH/mV meters; BNC and MiniDIN connections provide secure, noise-free signal transmission .
  • Sterilization Validation: Autoclavable models maintain sensor integrity after repeated steam sterilization cycles, essential for aseptic processing .

5. STORAGE & HANDLING ATTRIBUTES

  • Storage: Store in a clean, dry, and stable location. Polarographic probes must be stored with the membrane cap moist to prevent drying out . Do not allow the sensor to freeze .
  • Cleaning: Rinse with distilled water before and after use. For stubborn residues, use a mild detergent and a soft brush, taking care not to damage the membrane. For bioprocessing, clean-in-place (CIP) procedures are supported .
  • Inspection: Inspect the membrane for tears, wrinkles, or punctures before each use. Check the electrolyte level for polarographic probes and top up if low. For optical probes, inspect the sensor cap for scratches or damage .
  • Calibration: Calibrate daily before use in water-saturated air (100% humidity) or using a zero-oxygen solution (e.g., sodium sulfite). For polarographic probes, allow adequate warm-up time (30-60 minutes) before calibrating. Some meters use automatic BOD calibration standards .
  • Electrolyte Replacement (Polarographic): Replace electrolyte solution periodically (approximately every 2 months or as indicated by sluggish response) and after membrane changes. Use only recommended electrolyte solution .
  • Membrane Cap Replacement: Replace membrane caps when damaged or as recommended by the manufacturer (e.g., every 1-2 years for optical caps) . Ensure the new cap is properly seated and free of air bubbles .
  • Polishing: For polarographic probes, the cathode may need occasional polishing using the provided polishing strips to maintain optimal response time .

6. LABORATORY & CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

  • Primary Application: Dissolved oxygen measurement in biological fluids, tissue oxygenation monitoring, bioprocess control, and water quality testing for clinical diagnostic, research, pharmaceutical, and environmental laboratories .
  • Clinical Role: Essential analytical equipment in clinical research laboratories (critical care, nephrology), central sterile processing departments, hospital water quality management, blood gas labs, and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities .
SAFETY HANDLING PRECAUTIONS

1. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

  • Electrical Safety: Do not immerse the meter or connectors in liquid. Keep the BNC or MiniDIN connector clean and dry.
  • Membrane Handling: The oxygen-permeable membrane is delicate. Do not touch the membrane with sharp objects or abrasive materials . Do not use in solutions containing organic solvents that may damage the membrane .
  • Polarographic Probe Warm-Up: To ensure accuracy, dissolved oxygen probes require a warm-up period of 30-60 minutes after connecting to the meter to stabilize the current . Ensure the meter is on and the probe is connected well in advance of calibration.
  • Stirring Requirement (Polarographic): As polarographic probes consume oxygen during measurement, they require a minimum sample flow (stirring) to provide an accurate reading. Optical probes do not have this requirement .
  • Storage: Never store polarographic probes dry, as this will damage the reference electrode . Ensure the membrane cap remains moist .
  • Chemical Compatibility: Avoid exposing the probe to strong oxidizing agents, organic solvents, or high concentrations of alcohols, hydrogen peroxide, or sodium hypochlorite as these can interfere with the measurement or damage optical sensors .
  • Cable Management: Do not sharply bend or crimp the cable, as this can damage the internal wiring and lead to erratic readings.
  • Training: Only trained laboratory personnel should operate dissolved oxygen probes for clinical diagnostic applications.

2. FIRST AID MEASURES

  • Electrolyte Exposure: If electrolyte solution comes into contact with eyes, flush with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention. If on skin, wash with soap and water .
  • Sample Splash: If biological sample splashes into eyes, flush with water for 15 minutes, seek medical attention; if on skin, wash with soap and water.
  • Sharp Edges: If broken glass or sharp edges from a damaged probe cause a cut, clean the wound thoroughly, apply pressure to stop bleeding, and seek medical attention if necessary.
  • Electrical Malfunction: If the meter or probe shows signs of electrical malfunction (smoke, erratic readings due to short circuit), disconnect power immediately and remove the probe from the sample .

3. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES

  • Flammability: Plastic and rubber components (housing, cable, membrane) are combustible; may melt or burn if exposed to flame or high heat.
  • Extinguishing Media: Use carbon dioxide (CO₂) or dry chemical extinguisher for electrical fires.
  • Fire Response: Disconnect the meter from the power supply and unplug the probe; do not use water on electrical fire.