Reliable Incubator Monitoring & Alarming with a Data Logger

VersaLog is An Effective Solution for In Vitro Fertilization ClinicIn Vitro Fertilization Incubator Monitoring

CAS DataLoggers provided the Accsense VersaLog temperature alarming and incubator monitoring solution for an In Vitro fertilization clinic. The clinic needs to log temperature on three stacked automatic injection CO2 incubators used for culturing patients’ embryos. The clinic was using paper chart recorders to monitor humidity and CO2 tank levels but wanted to replace their existing setup since it has become more expensive to get replacement parts.

Each incubator must be maintained at 37°C (98.6°F) and experiences temperature fluctuations from staff opening the doors, so the clinic needed a device with good accuracy to alarm all three units. Since simple monitoring and alarming were the main requirements, the clinic didn’t want to purchase a complicated system with more features than they needed.

Installation

The clinic installed an Accsense VersaLog TC Temperature Data Logger, a cost-effective device for real-time continuous monitoring and alarming. It was easy for a technician to place the logger on a shelf next to the incubators and trail three Type J thermocouples out to the unit’s analog inputs.

Accsense VersalogUsage

The Accsense VersaLog TC is an 8-channel thermocouple data logger. Its 7 external input channels accommodate Type E, N, J, K, and T thermocouples while the 8th channel is an internal thermistor and functions as a reference for the thermocouples and an ambient temperature sensor. Additionally, this standalone recorder has a 16-bit analog-to-digital converter meeting the clinic’s need for high-resolution measurements.

Accsense VersaLog data loggers are compact and lightweight with a built-in USB port offering connection to a PC for quick configuration and data download. The data logger also has an auxiliary serial port and a large 8MB memory storing up to 4 million measurements stored in non-volatile flash memory for easy retrieval. For extended operation, the internal battery included with the logger has a life of about 10 years or the logger can be powered through the USB port. Users define data logging rates anywhere from once every 20 milliseconds (with external power) to once every 12 hours.

Alarms

In this application, users have programmed the data logger with two configurable alarm thresholds per channel, and the ALARM1 & A2/EXT terminals have been configured as alarm outputs so that the clinic’s alarm buzzer will announce temperature excursions simultaneously with the logger’s red alarm LED. The
VersaLog can also report its alarm status to a host PC via USB, modem or Ethernet device server.

Software

SiteView software supports configuration, downloading, graphing, analysis and alarm reporting. This intuitive Windows-based application has an easy-to-use graphic interface and supports USB, serial port and Ethernet connections for easy local and remote access. Fast communication speed up to 115200 bps enables quick downloads. Users can zoom in and out and add comments to graphs to provide a detailed view of results for successful incubator monitoring.

Benefits

Accsense VersaLog forms a reliable yet affordable temperature monitoring and alarming solution for the clinic’s needs. Easy to set up and use, the logger’s 8
channels record at a high resolution and its large memory enable extended logging—a great value when compared to data loggers with similar functionality.

Meanwhile, the logger’s alarm and excitation output warn personnel the moment that any incubator goes outside its critical temperature setting. If the clinic needs to expand its monitoring points, users can utilize multiple VersaLog data loggers for a larger number of channels.

For more information on our Accsense VersaLog Data Loggers, incubator monitoring or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS
DataLogger Application Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or request more information.