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2di sensors

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Sensors used with the TV2 monitors are of two different types:

  1.  Wired sensors for TV2-202 monitors
    1. DD1 Temperature only (-40°C to 120°C)
    2. TSMRH3001 Temperature/humidity (-20°C to 80°C, 5% to 90%)
    3. WDP2 Differential pressure sensor (±0.5″wc)
    4. TC-x Thermocouples (200°C to 1250°C, type dependent)
  2. Wireless Sensors for TV2-201 monitors
    1. WS4HETM External Thermistor (-30°C to 80°C)
    2. WS4HITMIHM Temperature/humidity (-20°C to 80°C, 5% to 90%)
    3. WS4HTC-x Thermocouples (200°C to 1250°C, type dependent)

All sensors designed to work with the TV2 monitors are digital.  This means that each has an analog to digital converter built into the sensor, so technically the sensors take readings as an analog sensor but the signal is converted to a digital value before being transmitted to the TV2 monitor.  This is important because when a digital signal is transmitted via a direct wire it is much more unlikely to be affected by noise generated by the external environment.

We make every effort to insure that all 2di sensors meet or exceed the accuracy requirement necessary meet all regulatory and industry standards that apply to their intended uses.  For example, many of our customers use the TV2 sensors to monitor, log and alarm refrigerators and freezers storing vaccines.  The CDC as well as certain industry groups such as JCAHO, recommend that temperature sensors used to monitor refrigerator and freezer temperatures have an accuracy of at least ±0.3°C.  All of our temperature sensors except thermocouples, which are used for extreme temperature not necessary for vaccine storage, meet or exceed this level of accuracy, (see table below).

  1.  Wired sensors for TV2-202 monitors
    1. DD1 Temperature only (±0.30°C)
    2. TSMRH3001 Temperature/humidity (±0.3°C, ±1.5%)
    3. WDP2 Differential pressure sensor (±0.002″wc)
    4. TC-X Thermocouples (t-type ±1.0°C, E, J, K types ±2.2°C)
  2. Wireless Sensors for TV2-201 monitors
    1. WS4HETM External Thermistor (±0.3°C)
    2. WS4HITMIHM Temperature/humidity (±0.3°C, ±1.5%)
    3. WS4HTC-x Thermocouples (t-type ±1.0°C, E, J, K types ±2.2°C)

What role does the TV2 monitor play in sensor accuracy.  The TV2 monitor whether the TV2-202 or the TV2-201 does have a very small impact on the 2di sensors, but it is in the range of 0.1% of the reading.  This means that it could affect the sensor accuracy by that amount, so a DD1 sensor could by ±0.3001°C.  This amount is so small that it can not be measured except with an extremely accurate scientific instrument and is within the limits prescribed by CDC, FDA, JCAHO, and other certifying agencies.  This means that if sensors are re-calibrated by 2di it is not necessary to send the TV2 monitor with the sensor.

How often do sensors need to be re-calibrated?

DD1 – Never needs to be re-calibrated, however some certifying agencies require sensors to be re-calibrated every year or two.  We generally put a date two years in the future on our calibration certificates as the re-calibrate date.

TSMRH3001 – Never needs to be re-calibrated. Under normal operation, the sensor may drift to ~0.1%RH/year. We qualify the HS3001 for 10years operation.  The temperature part of this sensor also has minimal drift.  We put a date two years in the future on our calibration certificates as the re-calibrate date.

The re-calibrate date listed on 2di Calibration certificates is listed because most certificating agencies want to see a re-calibration date and a two year re-calibration date seems to make them happy.  We could put a date of 5 years for re-calibration certificate but the agencies would balk.  They do not yet grasp that modern digital sensors if manufactured correctly, do not drift so they really never need to be calibrate.  The exception to this is thermocouple sensors which do drift over time.

 

 

 

TV2 showing one lab fridge temperature

Three easy steps: Getting temperature sensors into a refrigerator

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Three easy steps for getting a temperature sensor into a refrigerator.

All refrigerators have a temperature probe which is connected to the compressor to regulate the internal temperature of the refrigerator.  However, the need exists foImage result for refrigerator with Temperature sensor inside glycol bottler a second temperature sensor to trigger an alarm or keep a record of the internal temperature.  These temperature sensors can be either wired or wireless.  But whether they communicate with another piece of equipment via a wired or wireless connection the need to be positioned inside the refrigerator.  These sensors almost always have a wire which goes to a display or a transmitter.

So, how do you get the sensor inside the cold cavity with the wire leading to the display or a transmitter and not have the wire create an air gap as it is threaded between the gasket and the door frame.  The challenge is to get the probe inside the refrigerator and still maintain a good seal, so the refrigerator stays cold.

If you have large walk-in refrigerators you can drill a hole through the side or top of the unit, insert the wire and then fill the hole with some sort of thermal sealant. You can do the same thing with smaller refrigerators.  There is no reason you can not drill a hole in the refrigerator wall.  The only danger is that you could puncture a coil.  But the coils should all be located on the back of the unit.  Your drill bit will go through the outer metal shell, an inch or so of insulation and the inner plastic shell.  There are no cooling coils in the walls of a normal stand up refrigerator.  But, do check first to verify that the cooling coils are on the back of the unit.

Some smaller refrigerators, particularly scientific refrigerators, have a port through which the wire can be threaded.  If a port exists it will be filled with some sort of filler; molding clay, Styrofoam, plastic, etc…  Generally, the port will be on the back of the refrigerator but look at the back and the sides for a hole filled with some easily removed filler.  Once you have identified the port:

 

  1.  Remove the filler from the port;
  2. Thread the wire through the port, positioning the sensor near the center of the fridge;
  3. Reinsert the filler, pressing it around the wire.

If your refrigerator does not have a port through which the sensor can be threaded:

  1. Open the refrigerator door and thread the sensor wire between the gasket and the door frame near the upper hinge. Draping the wire over the top of the door hinge will help keep the sensor wire from moving around;
  2. Position the sensor near the center of the fridge. Numerous studies have shown that the temperature near the walls or front or back of a refrigerator is much warmer than the air in the center of the refrigerator;
  3. Tape the wire against the door frame so that it stays in place. Duct tape is best because it will adhere to the wire and door even given the cold temperatures of the refrigerator.

A small gap may be left between the door and the door frame, but it should be small enough that only a tiny bit of air can escape from the fridge into the outside air and the internal temperature should not be affected.  If you are worried about the resulting gap you could drill a hole in the gasket.  Refrigerator gaskets generally have an expandable bellows below an internal magnet which ‘snap onto’ the metal door frame to provide a seal against outside air.  Drill a hole in the bellows, underneath the magnet, and thread the sensor through the hole.  Then squirt some silicon in the hole so that it fills the hole in the gasket.  You can get a tube of silicon from any hardware store.

EU GMP Annex-1

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Introduction

Annex 1 of the EU GMP is a guideline and set of specific rules describing the European Union’s requirements for the manufacture of sterile medicinal products, including what we refer in the USA as “compounding pharmacies.” EU MP Annex 1 guidelines are applicable to all EU nation states in regards to pharmaceuticals bought, sold and manufactured –  including those imported from non-member nations. The latest revision will be released in 2019, and is expected to have a greater reaching impact on QA/QC and all laboratory activities in the EU and abroad.

So, what exactly is Annex 1 of the EU GMP, and what does it mean for pharmaceutical companies operating in the USA? For the most part, USP regulations in conjunction with 21 CFR 11 dependencies satisfy EU GMP, especially Annex 1, however, it is important to ensure manufacturing processes are not simply performed within standards and regulations, but monitored thoroughly throughout the process as well.

Overview

On 20 December 2017, the European Commission published the long-awaited draft of Annex 1 “Manufacture of Sterile Medicinal Products.” In fact, it was published nearly three years after it was first announced. Many see the change over the previous (technologically outdated) versions as having a focus on Quality Risk Management (QRM)

A key driver for the change, the concept of risk management is hard to miss in the new document:

  • 92 instances of the word “risk” (only mentioned 20 times in previous version) total times mentioned is 600, so “risk” is huge.
  • 15 references to QRM specifically

The 2018 (and presumably 2019) update contains substantial additional detail on virtually every topic in the 2007 version. In addition to those noted above as potential game-changers, compliance personnel can look forward to new levels of detail on such subjects as: Trending of environmental monitoring results (meaning the existence of a dependable chart recorder/data logger of pressure differential, temperature, and relative humidity)

Two key areas of focus should be viable and non-viable environmental and process monitoring and environmental control of pharmaceutical clean rooms as the essential part of the manufacture of a quality product. Simply adhering to standards without documented, digital storage of ongoing process controls is an exercise in futility.

We are somewhat partial since we engineer and develop instruments to monitor environmental conditions in cleanrooms, and for monitoring and logging data of control processes during pharmaceutical manufacturing. However, this partiality comes form countless instances of customers, and manufacturers reporting occasions where they assumed a process control was operating within optimal standards, only to find out later in log reports there was an anomaly which compromised the process. If end-use retail products are being manufactured – there is an acceptable risk for these incursions, and worst case scenario is a product mail fail or operate undesirably. In the case of a pharmaceutical product, it may be a person’s health and wellness which is ultimately compromised.

While there is no specific language to dictate specifics on “annex compliant” negative and positive pressure monitoring, as there is for acceptable micron size in particulate monitoring, it is important to note that the language does reference the requirement to maintain environmental control process monitoring, logging data throughout the manufacturing process.

Compliance

There are many instruments on the market; some specialize in monitoring temperature. others focus on humidity. Some are standalone room air differential pressure monitors. The TV2 Cleanroom Monitor is the only instrument to perform all three actions with specifications which exceed EU GMP requirements, USP 787 requirements and provides data storage for one full year.

We are happy to consult with you regarding your temperature, relative humidity and room pressure monitoring needs – whether you re in the USA or adhering to new EU GMP Annex 1 compliance guidelines. We are here to help.

Here is a PDF of the EU GMP Annex 1

ec_annex1_20dec2017

 

 

 

Zoom in of one pressure readout on partial screen of TV2

Negative Pressure in a Positive Pressure Cleanroom

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Not too long ago we were asked by a pharmaceutical manufacture why our TV2 pressure monitor showed a negative pressure indication on the Max/Min display.

We investigated and found that if you quickly open the door into the room the pressure drops down into the negative range.  This had always been the case but he had never noticed it since he was using analog pressure monitors.  They did show the jump to negative pressure but you had to look quick since the needle swings happened fast.  The TV2 monitor, being digital, records and updates the high and low pressure, showing each in red if it is below the safety level.  So even if the room experienced negative pressure for a few seconds it is written to the display where it is very obvious.  In fact it jumps right out at anyone walking by.  That is, of course, the whole point, but this manufacturer was worried that an inspector would balk if the minimum pressure reading showed up in red.  Explaining that it was probably negative for a few seconds would not be enough to avoid ‘ding’ on the report.  Any indication of a negative pressure was a problem.  It was a problem easily fixed.  We simply set the display to not show the Max/Min.

However, this fix ignores the real problem.  Anytime the door of a positive pressurized  room is opened, all of that positive pressure air can and often does spill out into the hall where it is instantly mixed with the outside air and then sucked back into the room.  And, of course, it brings with it any and all suspended particles so that now the cleanroom is no longer clean.  Or at least as clean as it needs to be.

There are actually three solutions to this problem:  1.  Open the door verrrry slowly;  2. Install large capacity blowers that turn on any time a door is opened to maintain positive pressure; and 3.  Install a pressurized air lock so that pressure can return to positive before the door to the clean area is opened.  Each solution has its own drawback.  Option one is impractical and probably impossible to enforce.  Option two is expensive to install and may lead to increased maintenance costs.  Option three is the best solution.  In order to be effective personnel must pause in the air lock until it is re-pressurized and the in-rushing air has had time to be evacuated.  It is also important that the two doors not be opened at the same time.

Ai and Deep Learning: The Future of Cleanrooms

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Introduction

Cleanrooms are essentially an area or room dedicated to a particular process, and wherein such processes are required to be carried out in an ultra-clean environment. Traditionally, these “rooms” are kept clean by high-tech air filtration systems, custom HVAC systems, constant air changes and then monitored around the clock for particulate counts using expensive particle counters while simultaneously monitoring temperature, relative humidity and differential room air pressure. Particulates are a cleanroom’s worst nightmare. Particulates can include dust, dirt, viruses, bacteria, mold, allergens and a host of other contaminants – all which can be increased if any one part of the control and/or monitoring system fails.

Keeping cleanrooms clean is an ongoing exercise in futility; after all, the Earth is a dirty place, and keeping a microcosm within it clean is a very, very difficult job. On the other hand, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will one day soon take this task head-on and do it with ease and reliability never before seen – opening new doors of what’s possible in developing new breakthroughs in the fields of biotechnology, nano technology and computer processors.

The Process

Artificial Intelligence, or as it is collectively known “AI” is not something comparable to the Terminator, nor is it created in the likeness of JARVIS – the AI companion of Tony Stark in popular Iron Man movies. In fact, AI – in most cases – is not even a physical entity. Sure, AI-based algorithms can be embedded in hardware, robots, and even your refrigerator, but most commonly, AI is a specially written algorithm (computer code), created to solve a particular task. in some cases (as with deep learning) it is programmed to learn form it’s own mistakes, and develop autonomous ways to accomplish tasks with greater efficiency.

Keeping cleanrooms cleaner is one such possible task.

In order to translate theory into practice and create our “cleanroom bot”, we must first “learn” how AI “learns” – a process by which an algorithm is fed known variables, and then tasked to identify these variables with greater precision and speed. In this case, we would theoretically create the code (most likely in Python and R programming languages), and then add peripheral “senses” – like an ultra-high resolution camera and particle sensor/counter to detect particulates; and a system of identifying particulates by size and type. We would also integrate a trusted temperature, RH and differential pressure sensor system, and maybe even a biological detecting sensor system for live particulate detection.

Then we would do something quite novel – we would add sensors and learning variables for conditions existing outside of the controlled environment. We would monitor atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, differential pressure in the containing facility, geographical analysis, human bio-metrics, biofeedback, body odor, pheromone analysis, etc. Essentially, our AI-based cleanroom bot would constantly pull data from every conceivable source within and outside of the cleanroom.

We would ideally then start to train our “cleanroom bot” to identify and understand unfathomable variations of particulates. This is not as difficult as it may seem. In fact, using cameras and algorithms to identify faces, license plates, and even early detection of genetic disorder predisposition is already being used daily in the world around us. Basically, our cleanroom bot would need two distinct comparative models to start – a ultra-clean ISO-1 cleanroom with the baseline ISO-9 cleanroom, and then add the interval cleanroom types. In fact, in its simplest form, we could readily accomplish this using the TensorFlow platform, adding in some custom tweaks to the TensorFlow Image training/retraining code, add in analysis differential for areas in and outside the room, develop a baseline clean and dirty classification and voila! We have a working (infantile-level) cleanroom bot.

Practical Use

Up until this point, we have been focused on the process of the why’s and how’s regarding creating a cleanroom bot, or for better description, an AI-based algorithm for identifying whether or not a particular controlled environment is clean or dirty – and if it is – just how clean or dirt it is. This alone would be great, especially since it would cut the current time it takes to verify such data by thousands of times less! However, it is the predictive analysis we are really after.

Knowing is only half the battle. It is far better to speculate conditions with flawless precision and ultimate accuracy, than to know at a particular moment in time what a controlled environment can be classified as. To explain a bit further, imagine a scenario where our cleanroom bot can predict with near 100% accuracy the most ideal times and conditions by which to carry out specific processes in that cleanroom. Imagine a bit further that the rendered data collected by our cleanroom bot will enable us to know not only when a cleanroom will be “dirty” but also what exactly is making it dirty, and why. One more step – our cleanroom bot will be capable of making recommendations for building cleanrooms at the ISO -9 level and beyond, keeping them at that level and even taking them to cleaner levels – all at a fraction of the cost of operating a current ISO-9 cleanroom.

This is no longer science fiction. It is a reality, and only a matter of time before the expansive capabilities of AI-based deep learning infiltrates and enhances almost all aspects of our daily lives. Cleaner cleanrooms and controlled environments means better vaccines, better medications, more advances in biotechnology, greater capacity for maximizing processing power in chipsets, potential to identify causes for disease (and cures) and so much more. These things would not otherwise be possible without the integration of AI-based algorithms in cleanrooms and controlled environments.

 

Picture of nurse in hospital hallway

JCAHO Standards

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JCAHO temperature standards, JCAHO tissue standards, tissue storage temperatures

JCAHO Standards

The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, issued a new standardized procedures on storing tissue samples. This new standard, PC.17.10 applies to organizations that store or issue tissue, which may include areas outside of the clinical laboratory, for example, surgery and outpatient centers and tissue banks.

Examples of tissue specimens that might be found in an organization include bone, cornea, skin, heart valves/conduits, tendons, fascia, dura, bone marrow, veins, arteries, cartilage, sperm, embryos, eggs, stem cells, cord blood, synthetic tissue (artificially prepared, human and nonhuman based), and other cellular- and tissue-based transplant or implant products.

It says in part that the organization must:
B 6. Maintain continuous temperature monitoring for storage refrigerators and freezers.
C 7. Maintain daily records to show that tissues were stored at the required temperatures.

Note: Main types of tissue storage used are: “ambient” room temperature (for example, freeze-dried bone), refrigerated, frozen (for example, deep freezing colder than –40°C), and liquid nitrogen.
B 8. Storage equipment has functional alarms and emergency back-up.

How to comply?

The easiest way to comply with this standard, without purchasing a commercial laboratory freezer with a built-in monitoring system, is by adding on a standalone temperature system that is capable of monitoring, documenting and alarming.

One such system is the Master Thermometer, manufactured by 2di. It uses a probe to sample temperature every few minutes and draws an electronic chart on its display which complies with provision B6 and C6 of the standard. It also has a built-in relay that triggers an auto dialer or strobe/siren alarm, which complies with B8 of the JCAHO standard. It stores over 1.5 years of temperature history and can be downloaded into a computer to generate a paper copy of the graph or an archived copy. An added benefit of this device is that its chart is constantly being updated and always displayed so that each person in the vicinity of the freezer is always
aware of the temperature.

TV2 chart of 2 temps

Logging temperature

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Data loggers: One way to monitor a freezer or cooler’s temperature

Data loggers are devices that can be used to sample and store temperature and/or humidity at regular intervals. Before data loggers, chart recorders used paper charts to record the information. This was useful but the amount of data they could display was limited and if the user forgot to change the chart mostly useless. The modern data logger stores the temperature history in its computer memory until it can be downloaded to a computer.

Data loggers were originally designed as weather forecasting tools, but were quickly adopted as a much better way to monitor freezers and refrigerators. Keeping stable temperature in a freezer is much more important than most people think. It is especially true when deep frozen food is stored where ten degrees can make the difference between safely stored food and food which can promote bacteria growth. The 10-degree difference in temperature might seem small, but it is crucial for deep frozen products.

Data loggers are absolutely necessary in professional freezers. The standard thermometer inside the freezer shows only the present temperature. Data loggers records temperature fluctuations all the time even when no one is looking.

There is at least one problem with data loggers that limits their usefulness. Although they record temperature history they do not display the temperature history. They must be downloaded to a computer before the history can be viewed.

Fortunately there has been an improvement to the data logger that overcomes this problem:  The TV2,
The Master Thermometer

Unlike other data loggers, The Master Thermometer works all by itself. It has a processor, its own memory and a big LCD screen, it doesn’t need a computer or any other device to display all the data it has stored in memory. Its sensors can be placed up to 300 feet from the display unit, which allows it to monitor and document temperature even in large freezers. As everything is stored in the Master Thermometer’s non volatile internal memory and is displayed on the LCD screen. A temperature chart is drawn on the LCD display so that anyone can immediately tell what has occurred within the last day, week or even month.

For more information please visit Two Dimensional Instruments: http://e2di.com/

Information About The Author

Rick Kaestner is the President and CEO of Two Dimensional Instruments; the worldwide leader
in providing technology to monitor, chart, alarm and record temperature and humidity. For
more information please visit their website at www.e2di.com

Glass door fridge (2 doors)

How a Refrigerator Maintains its Temperature

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Recently we received a call from a panicked TV2 user. He sent a copy of his temperature history showing a number of alarms. He was convinced that the TV2 was giving false alarms. He also sent, at my request, a copy of his alarm settings. The alarm setting were set so that any time the temperature fell below 2.5° for more than two minutes an alarm was triggered. However he was logging temperature once every 10 minutes. Therefore, the alarms were not always in concert with the logged temperatures.

Although these alarm setting seem reasonable as he wanted to provide the maximum protection for vaccines stored in his refrigerator, it demonstrates a lack of understanding in how a refrigerator actually works.

Most people assume that a refrigerator quickly cools down to its set temperature stays there, steady and constant.  That is not the way a refrigerator works.  It is always warming up and cooling down. It never just sits there at the correct temperature.

When the refrigerator cools down to its set temperature the compressor turns off and waits to come on again until the temperature warms up to some set point. This is exactly like your air condition at home or in the office. The temperature is never just stable. It is always moving up and down.

How quickly a refrigerator, or you home for that matter, it warms up is due to several factors.

  1. How much insulation there is in the walls, roof, floor and door.
  2. How often the door is opened.
  3. Type of door:
    1. Glass
    2. Metal
    3. Wood 
  4. If something warmer than the refrigerator temperature is placed inside.  (This can have a major effect if the object has a large mass).
  5. Where the refrigerator is located:
    1. An office environment
    2. An un-air-conditioned warehouse
    3. Outside
  6. An in-efficient or failing compressor.
  7. Compressor settings.
  8. A poor, bad or failing thermostat.
  9. Poor contacts on a switch.
  10. Poor gaskets allowing air leakage around the door.
  11. Steady power supply.

Once a refrigerator warms up it must cool down again to the thermostat setting. How quickly it cools down is determined by several factors:

  1. The type, size and age of the compressor.
  2. The amount of insulation in the walls, roof, floor and door.
  3. The type of refrigerator door:
    1. Glass
    2. Metal
    3. Wood
  4. How well the refrigerator has been maintained
    1. How clean the refrigerator coils are.
    2. Proper air flow around the compressor and the coils.
  5. How full the refrigerator is.
  6. Where product is located inside the refrigerator.
  7. Whether the fan outlet inside the refrigerator is restricted or not.
  8. The temperature difference between the setting and the outside air temperature.
  9. Where the thermostat sensor is located inside the refrigerator.

In this case the TV2 user was confused because the temperature was moving up and down and a lot of alarms were occurring. In this particular case there was no correspondence between the alarms and the logged data points. This was because he was logging an average of all temperatures over a ten-minute period, but the alarms were set for a two-minute delay. So it was possible for the temperature to drop down below his alarm point for two minutes and then quickly warm up again within the ten-minutes period. However, he would never see the dip in temperature since all temperatures within that ten-minute period were averaged together.

We suggested that he set his log rate for once a minute. That way any momentary dips in temperature will be very visible on his temperature history chart. We also suggested that he put his temperature sensor in a vial of liquid to buffer the temperature swings. This dampens the response time of the TV2 sensor, but it probably gives a more accurate picture of the temperature of the liquids he is storing in his refrigerator.