MKN GHP-50 Water-Jacketed Constant Temperature Incubator

Overview

The MKN GHP-50 Water-Jacketed Constant Temperature Incubator is a precision-engineered environmental chamber designed for stable, uniform thermal control in life science laboratories. Unlike forced-air incubators, the GHP-50 employs a passive water-jacket insulation system—where a sealed stainless steel cavity surrounding the inner chamber is filled with deionized water—to provide exceptional thermal mass and minimal temperature fluctuation (< ±0.3 °C at 37 °C steady state). This architecture ensures high reproducibility across extended culture durations, making it suitable for sensitive applications such as mammalian cell propagation, microbial strain maintenance, and embryology protocols where thermal overshoot or gradient formation must be avoided. The unit operates within a standard ambient range of 10–30 °C and maintains setpoints from ambient +5 °C to 65 °C with microprocessor-regulated feedback control.

Key Features

• Robust stainless steel water jacket fabricated via TIG welding—resistant to corrosion, leakage, and long-term thermal fatigue
• Dual-layer tempered glass observation door with integrated silicone rubber gasket, minimizing heat loss while enabling uninterrupted visual monitoring without internal temperature disturbance
• Externally mounted electric heating elements eliminate direct contact between heater and chamber air—preventing localized hot spots and eliminating risk of sample desiccation or thermal shock
• Digital PID temperature controller with real-time display, adjustable setpoint resolution of 0.1 °C, and programmable ramp-hold profiles
• Integrated dual-safety alarm system: triggers audible and visual alerts upon chamber temperature deviation exceeding ±2 °C from setpoint or water jacket level falling outside operational range
• Front-accessible water fill port with level indicator and overflow protection; no tools required for routine maintenance

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The GHP-50 accommodates standard laboratory vessels including Petri dishes (up to 150 mm), multi-well plates (6–96-well), culture flasks (T25–T225), and serum bottles—without requiring shelf modification. Its interior volume (50 L net) supports stacked configurations with optimized airflow distribution through passive convection. While not certified for IEC 61010-1 Class II medical device use, the incubator is constructed to align with foundational safety principles referenced in ISO 13485 quality management systems for in vitro diagnostic support equipment. It meets general laboratory infrastructure expectations for GLP-compliant facilities—including traceable calibration records, documented maintenance logs, and audit-ready design features such as non-volatile parameter storage and event-triggered alarm logging.

Software & Data Management

The GHP-50 operates via embedded firmware with no external PC dependency. All operational parameters—including current temperature, setpoint, elapsed run time, and alarm history—are retained in non-volatile memory during power interruption. Optional RS-232 serial interface (available upon request) enables integration with centralized lab monitoring systems for remote status polling and basic event logging. Though not natively 21 CFR Part 11 compliant, the unit supports manual data recording workflows compatible with FDA-regulated environments when paired with validated electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) or LIMS platforms that enforce user authentication, audit trails, and electronic signatures.

Applications

• Maintenance of bacterial, fungal, and yeast stock cultures under defined aerobic conditions
• Long-term incubation of primary human and animal cell lines requiring stable CO₂-independent environments
• Pre-incubation of enzymatic reaction mixtures prior to kinetic assay initiation
• Seed germination studies and plant tissue culture under controlled thermal regimes
• Stability testing of biologics, vaccines, and reagents per ICH Q5C guidelines (when used in conjunction with validated humidity control add-ons)
• Supporting ISO 11137 sterility assurance validation by maintaining reference biological indicator carriers at precise temperatures

FAQ

What is the recommended water type for the jacket?
Deionized or distilled water is required to prevent mineral deposition and corrosion over time. Tap water is strictly prohibited.
Can the GHP-50 be used for CO₂-sensitive applications?
No—this is a non-CO₂, ambient-air incubator. For pH-sensitive mammalian cultures, pairing with an external CO₂ regulator or upgrading to a dedicated CO₂ incubator is necessary.
How often should the water jacket be refilled or replaced?
Water level should be inspected weekly. Full replacement is recommended every 3–6 months depending on ambient humidity and evaporation rate; always verify seal integrity before refilling.
Is calibration certificate included with shipment?
A factory calibration report (performed at 37 °C using NIST-traceable reference thermometers) is provided with each unit. On-site IQ/OQ documentation support is available upon request.
Does the unit support data export for regulatory submissions?
Raw temperature logs are not internally stored beyond 72 hours. For continuous data capture, third-party USB data loggers or RS-232-connected SCADA systems must be deployed in accordance with site-specific validation protocols.