examples of data acquired in cardiorespiratory studies using the emkaPACK system

flow signal from whole-body plethysmograph

flow signal from whole-body plethysmograph

Screenshot of acquisition from a whole-body plethysmograph for freely moving animals (RF analyzer).

calculating resistance and compliance

resistance/compliance data

The RC analyzer uses two signals, flow and pressure, to calculate resistance and compliance.

The screenshot shows flow (green) and pressure (blue) signals superimposed. The resistance and compliance measurements over different periods (shown as different colours) are shown in the bottom half.

effect of hypercapnia

effect of hypercapnia

The top data strip shows the effect of varying carbon dioxide concentration (2% CO2, 6% CO2) on the minute volume in mice.

The gas mixture exposure kit contains mass flow controllers to precisely regulate the flow of gases from the gas bottles to the plethysmogrpah chambers.

cough/sneeze detection

cough/sneeze detection

The cough analyzer, available as an add-on for whole-body plethysmography from freely moving animals, requires a sound and a flow signal.

Several user-adjustable criteria are available (left) to allow the analyzer to detect coughts by evaluating the two signals (right).

emkaBELT (lung volume nonvasively)

emkaBELT (lung volume nonvasively)

This is a screenshot from ecgAUTO after the iox data file has been loaded.

From top to bottom are the signal from the thoracic belt, the signal from the abdominal belt and the mask signal. We can can tell it is the calibration period because the mask signal is not flat.

As a reminder, calibration has three key stages:

1. in iox acquisition software, calibrate flow signal from pressure transducer (connected to a pneumotachograph)
2. place mask and belt(s) around subject. Do acquisition of at least 15 seconds (calibration period). Remove mask and do normal acquisition.
3. in ecgAUTO analysis software, perform final calibration using calibration period data. Subsequently, belt signals can be expressed as a lung volume.

respiration signals

respiration data

These are the signals obtained from the two belts with the emkaBELT module.

The top trace is the thoracic signal and the bottom trace is the abdominal signal.

One belt (thoracic belt in this example) is used to calculate lung volume parameters; the second volume is used to calculate airways resistance.

ecg, respiration, blood pressure
signals

cardiorespiratory studies
ecg, respiration, blood pressure

This screenshot is from a study in which the following parameters were acquired from a single subject via the emkaPACK:

• ecg (lead 2)
• respiration (emkaBELT module, with one belt only)
• blood pressure (using a t-PRESS module and vascular access port)

plethysmography with video recording

video stream

Respiratory flow as well as video were recorded from this experiment (mouse in the whole-body plethysmograph).

The screenshot is from iox during review of data. The bottom half shows the start, middle and end of the video sequence associated with the data displayed in the top half. To play the sequence, you just click the play button!

comparing waveforms

comparing waveforms

During data review in iox, the beat superposition panel (insert) allows you to select and superimpose waveforms from different time points.