Iox (acquisition software)

iox is a data acquisition platform developed and sold by emka TECHNOLOGIES SA, based in Paris, France. It has a modular structure lending itself to customized development. Indeed, several standard features, such as video acquisition, began life as customer-specific features.

Overview

In fact, iox is more than an acquisition system; as it is also able to analyze data in real time and to manage peripheral devices. Its key characteristics are as follows:

  • PC compatibility
  • acquires and analyzes analog signals
  • default acquisition card is National Instruments card with a 12-bit converter with and a range of ±5 V (giving a resolution of 2.5 mV).
  • also acquires digital signals (from compatible devices)
  • up to 64 inputs (10Hz to 100kHz)
  • extensive modularity, which is most evident for the analysis modules ("analyzers"), which are add-on modules specially designed to analyze a specific type of signal. Each analyzer is developed using algorithms widely accepted and validated by the life science research community.
  • GLP and 21 cfr part 11 compliance - usersMANAGEMENT, studyMANAGEMENT, auditSERVER and eSIGN modules are available for users who need to work in a glp environment .

User experience

The basic workflow when using iox is as follows:

1. create a configuration file. A configuration file defines the number of subjects (animals or tissues), the inputs associated with each subject and the analyzers applied to each input.

2. tune analyzers. Each analyzers offers several user controls for defining acceptance and rejection criteria, as well as the desired outputs.

3. launch acquisition.

4. calibrate inputs.

5. perform streaming, storage and/or logging. During streaming, raw data are recorded on the hard drive. During storage, calculated parameters are recorded on the hard drive. During logging, calculated parameters are displayed on the screen.

The result of this workflow is a master site file for each subject. This file is a package of all data and information related to that experiment on the site containing, among other things, the configuration file, calibration values, streaming/storage data, added comments.

iox also offers other features related acquisition or not:

  • device management. iox uses TTL "start-stop" but also more elaborate protocols to manage devices such as stimulators, tissue bath systems, mass flow controllers etc.
  • protocols. Instead of performing tasks manually, you can use protocols to save time and increase productivity. A protocol is a sequence of tasks performed by protocol.
  • views. A view is a user-defined display.
  • video. Video is an option with recent versions of iox. The video stream can be incorporated into the master file or stored as separate files.

Current analyzers

Analyzers available with the latest versions of iox are:

for cardiovascular studies
BP, blood pressure: systemic or aortic blood pressure
BF, blood flow
LVP, left ventricular pressure: isolated heart experiments
SONO: sonomicrometry signal from sonomicrometry crystals in heart wall.
PV: pressure-volume signals from within a heart ventricule
PL, pressure-length
ECGR: ecg rhythm

for pulmonary studies
RF, respiratory flow: typically for plethysmography with freely moving subjects
RC, resistance & compliance: typically for plethysmography with sedated subjects
DCRF, dual-chamber respiratory flow : typically for plethysmography with sedated subjects
COUGH: cough detection (in plethysmographs)
APNEA: apnea anlyzer

for electrophysiology applications
VAP, ventricular action potential (stimulated ventricular muscle or Purkinje fiber)
NAP, nodal action potential (pacer cells from sinoatrial or atrioventricular nodes)
MAP, monophasic action potential (in-vivo or in-vitro endocardial and epicardial monophasic action potentials recordings in the intact heart)

for eeg studies
EEG, electroencephalogram eeg, emg, for power spectrum analysis
nerve, multicellular signal from nerves with burst firing pattern

for cystometry applications
CYST, cystometry pressure signal from bladder

multipurposes analyzers
DISPLAY, to acquire/display/record an input (without calculation)
SLOW, slow signals such as aorta or smooth muscle contraction, temperature monitoring, etc.
RHYTHMIC, for rhythmic signals, e.g. papillary muscle contraction
SRHYTHM, for slow rhythmic signals, e.g. uterus contraction, ileum contraction
ACTIVITY any ttl signal, for example activity counters
STAB, stability - to monitor food and drink intakes

References

iox user manual version 2.5 revision 2 - October2009 Available from emka TECHNOLOGIES