Archive for March 2014
Wireless Physiology | Data Acquisition
Research and education in the life sciences often benefits from the use of monitoring devices in which the subject being tested can move freely. BIOPAC now offers a multiple parameter ambulatory monitoring system—the BioNomadix series of wireless physiological monitoring devices.
BioNomadix
are high-quality, wireless monitoring devices that appeal to users who value
the level of accuracy that comes with wired systems, but are searching for a
data acquisition solution that enables the researcher to collect data from a
subject conducting procedures that require ample space and frequent motion.
The
BioNomadix series not only enables researchers to record high-quality data in
situations where a wired device would be limiting, it also brings comfort and
freedom to the subject. With activities such as exercising and other
high-movement tasks, the lack of wires allows the subject to conduct real-life
motions without obstruction or discomfort.
The
devices consist of a subject-worn transmitter and a receiver module.
Transmitters easily attach to any location and are used with additional leads
or transducers—short leads allow placement close to the signal source to ensure
excellent data quality. A custom, stretch mesh shirt allows multiple devices to
be worn comfortably by the subject at one time.
BioNomadix
dual-channel devices can collect data from an array of physiological signals
and signal combinations including:
ECG Dynamometry Impedance Cardiography (NICO)
EEG Respiration Electrodermal Activity
EOG Pulse Accelerometry
EMG Temperature Gyroscope
EGG Dual Strike (Heel/Toe) Goniometry/Torsiometry
Each
device is configured for the specific physiological signal type to help ensure
high-quality data at full bandwidth.
BioNomadix
wireless data sets are the latest addition to data acquisition and analysis
systems from BIOAPC that are used in thousand of labs worldwide and cited in
thousands of peer-reviewed publications.
If
you are looking for a physiological monitoring device that allows movement,
comfort and variability while still maintaining the quality, integrity and
excellence of wired devices, BIOPAC’s BioNomadix series is key to your
research.
MP150 Data Acquisition Software
AcqKnowledge is the next generation in data acquisition and analysis.
With BIOPAC Systems’ MP System and AcqKnowledge acquisition software, research is more efficient than ever. Record, organize, manage and analyze data easily with AcqKnowledge’s intuitive interface and updated features.
The MP150 Data Acquisition System includes:
- Ethernet-ready data acquisition and analysis
- Ability to record multiple channels with differing samples rates
- Function to record at speeds of up to 400 kHz (aggregate)
AcqKnowledge provides numerous video tutorials which allow you to spend less time learning the software and more time recording and analyzing data. Additionally, the system can be placed in your local area network (LAN), and you can use any PC in the LAN to record from any MP150 system in the network.
AcqKnowledge Benefits and Features
BIOPAC MP150 Systems utilize AcqKnowledge software. Some of the major benefits of AcqKnowledge acquisition software include:
- Improved lab efficiency
- Enhanced security and data integrity
- Configurable user interface
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) template options
New for AcqKnowledge Version 4.3
The latest version of AcqKnowledge includes several exciting updates which have made the software even more easy to use than before.
Focus Areas – This feature simplifies and standardizes data analysis by allowing you to analyze data in selected regions, as well as use it with the most automated analysis routines and the Find Cycle Detector. When you set up focus areas, you can individually label them and search for cycles on these specific regions. The focus areas can then be downloaded into separate spreadsheets. For example, when conducting automated blood pressure analysis, you can download the search baseline, test phase and recovery period focus areas separately.
Channel Specific Grid Functionality – When using grids within a data file, the grids can be enabled or disabled for different graphs. For instance, if you need a different grid for ECG and Alpha EEG waveform on the same graph, you can adjust and customize each grid. This new tool also allows you to save graph templates and presets for future use.
Linked Acquisitions – Linked Acquisitions allows you to record from multiple MP150s, MP36Rs, B-Alert Headsets and BioHarness. You can choose from multiple synchronization methods and specify whether or not to create a merged data file at the end of recording. The merged data file then will contain all of your channels of data from each recording, with independent data files for each device.
Locate Animal ECG Complex Boundaries – This new system locates and marks animal ECG complex boundaries, and functions the same way as the Locate Human ECG Complex Boundaries. However, this feature is optimized for the faster heart rates of small animals. To use the Locate Animal ECG Complex Boundaries, simply enter in the average heart rate for the file, run the routine locater and mark the ECG complex boundaries.
New Preset Options – Presets help save time on recording and analysis. Rate, expression and box configuration presets are available for both calculation channel set-up and offline analysis. When using this feature, you simply specify the number of horizontal and vertical measurement boxes desired, and then save as a preset for future use.
New User Interface Features – Version 4.3 includes many new user interface features, including tabbed window display (multiple tabs containing different tab files), textual value toolbar, selection palette enhancements, linked selections, autoscale single waveform, configure number of horizontal measurements, remove annotations from a single channel and journal docking location preference.
Pressure-Volume Loop Analysis – Baseline analysis is useful for looking at immediate drug delivery effects and when positioning a catheter. The pressure-volume loop analysis feature includes a preconfigured QuickStart template which helps you start recording quickly, and enables you to analyze pressure-volume loops data from anesthetized animals. This tool lets you easily pause recordings and run a quick baseline analysis during use, and features an intuitive loop graph display with a built-in text table.
Learn More About MP150 Data Acquisition Software
If you are interested in learning more about how the MP System and AcqKnowledge acquisition software can help you work faster and smarter, please contact BIOPAC Systems.
BIOPAC is dedicated to developing innovative, high quality and competitively priced life sciences educational and research hardware and software designed to meet customers’ needs.
Heart Rate Variability
What
is Heart Rate Variability?
Heart
rate variability studies examine alterations in the interval between heart
beats. Several physiological variables can affect the normal rhythm of the
heart and the interaction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
systems.
Heart
rate fluctuates based on a variety of conditions and can indicate the presence
of disease or forewarn impending cardiac diseases. These indicators may always
be present but sometimes may only occur occasionally at specific
times throughout the day. Heart rate is monitored to assess the
health of a subject or the significance of heart abnormalities. Data
acquisition of this caliber can have profound advancements in the way heart
conditions are understood and treatments are developed.
Monitoring
heart rate variability may be time consuming and difficult without the right
tools in place.
How
heart rate variability works
The
base of your heart rate is located in the
sinoatrial (SA) node of the heart. In this node, cells continuously generate an
electrical impulse which is spread through the entire heart muscle, causing a
contraction. The number of electrical impulses generated per minute is
equivalent to the heart beats per minute.
The autonomic nervous system largely controls the heart rate and
rhythm of the heart, and is broken down into two separate areas: the
parasympathetic nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system.
The parasympathetic nervous system affects the heart rate
through the release of acetylcholine by the vagus nerve. This can impede
activation of SA node activity and may also decrease HRV.
The sympathetic nervous system impacts the heart rate through a
release of epinephrine and norepinephrine. This usually increases activity of
the SA node and may increase HRV.
How
BIOPAC fits in
When
performing heart rate variability analysis, the importance of recording proper
data can not be overstated.
"Results
reveal that even a single heart period artifact, occurring within a 2-min
recording epoch, can lead to errors of estimate heart period variability that
are considerably larger than typical effect sizes in psychophysiological
studies."
—Berntson
& Stowell, 1998