emka TECHNOLOGIES' integrated hardware and software solutions for pulmonary studies using plethysmography models

inExpose for exposure studies

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1. I want to measure the effects of exposure to different substances

The inExpose™ system is suitable for exposing subjects to a wide range of aerosolized liquids, solutions, suspensions and powders as well as vapours and gases.

temperature and humidity compensation in whole-body plethysmography with conscious animals

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2. In whole-body plethysmography with freely moving animals, can I remove the bias caused by environmental variations?

The temperatureHUMIDITY device is an add-on to the whole-body plethysmograph setup with freely moving subjects.

When this device is connected, the analyzer takes into account the prevailing temperature and humidity when calculating lung volume. In this way, data obtained at different times are comparable.

up to 3 mass flow controllers used (one for each gas)

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3. I want to measure the effects of different carbon dioxide concentrations

A gas mixture exposure kit is available as an add-on for whole-body plethysmography for freely moving animals.

The kit allows you to deliver a precise mixture of up to 3 gases (any gases) to the plethysmograph, in order to evaluate the effects of hypoxia, hyperoxia, hypercapnia etc.

smoking robot for simulating cigarette smoking

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4. I want to simulate real-life cigarette smoking

The cigarette smoking robot, available as part of an inExpose system, is designed to simulate how humans smoke.

The robot lights cigarettes then ejects them when they are finished. Up to 24 cigarettes can be 'smoked' in a user-defined order - any combination of sequential or parallel smoking is possible. Virtually any puffing profile can be produced - standardized profiles are predefined in the software.

real measurements

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5. I want a plethysmography setup that uses real measurements

Depending on the plethysmograph and its configuration, volume parameters are absolute (true) or relative. With an absolute measurement you not only detect changes over time but quantify them.

The volume signal is an absolute measurement in:

• double-chamber plethysmograph, whether in double-chamber or head-out configuration
• whole-body plethysmograph from sedated animals

(The volume signal is a relative measurement in whole-body plethysmography with freely moving animals.)

sedation allows direct measurement of parameters for resistance/compliance

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6. I want to measure lung resistance and compliance directly

At least two signals are acquired to calculate compliance and resistance: a flow signal and a pressure signal. It is only possible to measure pressure directly when animals are sedated.

When animals are sedated, the pressure may be measured in the pleura, esophagus or trachea. The pleura is the ideal point of measurement but technically more demanding to set up.

implant transmitter for animals 200g and upwards

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7. I want to measure cardiovascular and respiratory parameters simultaneously

Possible configurations to combine cardiovascular and respiratory parameters in a plethysmography setup are as follows:

telemetry system

A whole-body plethysmograph for freely moving animals combined with a transmitter implant measuring blood pressure and/or ecg.

tethered system

Alternatively, the whole-body plethysmograph for freely moving animals can be used in a swivel-tether system in which the tether is a wire connected to an implanted blood pressure transducer.

This solution is only possible with rats or guinea pigs (not mice) because the plethysmographs for these species can be adapted to swivel-tether experiments by the addition of a tower.

emkaBELT for measuring lung volume noninvasively from large animals

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8. I want to acquire respiratory parameters from large animals noninvasively

emkaBELT is an option available with our noninvasive telemetry measurement system.

It is based on a proven technology called respiratory inductive plethysmography, in which changes in the cross-sectional area of the torso (measured by one or two bands) can be expressed as lung volume.

video stream synchronized with physiological data

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9. I want to do a video recording of the animals

If you have a recent version of iox acquisition software, video acquisition is possible.

The video stream is fully synchronizeed with the physiological signals. Furthermore, you have the option of incorporating the video stream into the standard iox data file (.mkt file) or recording the video stream as separate files (where you choose the size of each video file). The advantage of using a separate video stream is that, after review, you can keep video files that have events of interest and delete the other ones, thus saving space.

example of customization

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10. I cannot see the product I need

emka TECHNOLOGIES offers tailor-made solutions for customers with specific needs.

For example, our technicians were able to provide solutions to researchers who wanted to perform behavioural studies in rat whole-body plethysmographs or to perform plethysmography in large animal (pig/dogs).

Contact us now to discuss further! We will be happy to propose a cost-competitive solution to meet your specific research need or solve your problems, however simple or complex they are.